Maternal and Non-maternal Caregivers’ Practices in Drug Administration to Children during Illness

Abstract

As work practices and living arrangements change, many mothers, who are often primary child caregivers, have to make some decisions as they try to balance childcare with paid work. Increasingly, childcare is shared between parents and other caregivers. However, little is known, especially in Ghana, about the childcare practices of mothers and household non-maternal caregivers in relation to drug administration. This study was conducted in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana to explore maternal and household non-maternal caregivers’ drug administration practices to identify risk factors that are directly linked to negative child health outcomes. Primary data include in-depth interviews with mothers and household non-maternal caregivers (n = 56) and focus group discussions (n = 3). Mothers were found to be more assertive than other household non-maternal caregivers in the identification of illnesses symptoms and decisions about treatment options. However, both mothers and other caregivers were very active agents in household drug administration practices. Both caregivers indicated their compliance with medicine regimens but mothers were more likely to show a consistent understanding of medicine side effects and instructions. However, neither mothers nor the other caregivers were consistent in checking for expiry dates. Some risks to child health outcomes were identified as a result of this dual caregiving arrangement. It is recommended that further studies be conducted with larger samples and with wider geographic scope. Similarly, it is recommended that the drug administration practices of other non-maternal caregivers (for example, fathers and teachers) could be explored.