Özet:

Aim: This study was conducted in order to determine traditional practices used by mothers of children who experienced abdominal pain during infancy. Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with mothers of infants enrolled in 2 Family Health centers located in two different regions of Turkey. The data were collected from totally 243 mothers by using a questionnaire. Results: It was determined that 64.6% of the babies referred to the doctor for abdominal pain in their infants and 47.3% gave medicine for the abdominal pain in infants. Benefits of traditional practices applied by the mothers in order to relieve abdominal pain of their infants were investigated and the mothers stated that they benefited from following practices, rocking the infant (68.7%), massaging abdomen with olive oil (37%), giving hot drink (38.3%), having their infant do leg exercises (37%), keeping in a dark room (25.5%), giving fennel tea (25.1%), giving sweet drinks (24.3%). When traditional practices applied to infants suffering from abdominal pain were compared based on regions, practices such as keeping in a quiet and dark room, having their infants do leg exercises, applying rose oil to abdomen or underside of foot and going to preacher to say prayer were used more frequently in south-eastern region and a statistical significance was determined (p<0.05). In the study, a statistical significance was found between consulting to doctor in case of abdominal pain (p<0.001) and using medicine for abdominal pain (p<0.05) based on the region where mothers lived, and while those living in west applied to doctor more frequently, those living in south-eastern region applied mostly traditional practices (p<0.05).Conclusion: Traditional practices for abdominal pain include several harmful treatments (alcohol or tar under the stomach or under the feet, black pepper, etc.). Mothers need to be conscious of avoiding unconscious practices since the amount of time and the duration are important for proven practices that are beneficial from traditional practices.

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