Mothers Attitudes toward Non-Nutritive (Pacifier) Sucking Habits in Their Children

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of the present study is to assess the mother's attitude toward pacifier habits in their children.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in primary health care center in Cherra-suburban Shekhon Sector in Musil Governorate/ Iraq in 30/ November /2011 to 1/May/2012. A convenience sample of 210 mothers with their children under the age of five years old was selected. Data were collected by the mothers' interview and analyzed by using the programmed through the application descriptive statistical frequency and percentage and inferential statistical analysis by Chi-square Test.

Results: The present study shows that the majority of mother's age were between (21-30) years old, most of them were housewives with low educational level. High prevalence using pacifier in this study and majority of themlku (64.4% ,123) were using pacifier for getting quite sleeping to their children. There were highly significant association between (mother`s educational level, socio-economical status) with mother's intervention used to stop sucking of pacifier at p-value ≤ 0.01.

Conclusion: Sucking habits had a high prevalence by mothers' in this study.

Recommendation: The study recommends to provide information about safe and appropriate use of pacifiers with guidance in all primary health care centers to increase parents' awareness toward pacifier.