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Parents' and primary healthcare practitioners' perspectives on the safety of honey and other traditional paediatric healthcare approaches
Author(s) -
Kumar Raekha,
Lorenc Ava,
Robinson Nicola,
Blair Mitch
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2010.01186.x
Subject(s) - focus group , medicine , health care , limiting , ethnic group , family medicine , health professionals , environmental health , pediatrics , sociology , anthropology , economics , economic growth , mechanical engineering , marketing , engineering , business
Abstract Background Traditional and complementary healthcare approaches (TCA) are widely used for children, often because of perceived safety. Honey is a traditional remedy for upper respiratory tract symptoms in infants. Health officials currently advise limiting honey use because of the risk of botulism. Objective This paper discusses honey as a traditional healthcare approach for children in a multi‐ethnic community, and parents' and primary healthcare practitioners' (PHPs) perceptions of its safety. Design As part of a larger study exploring beliefs about TCA, this paper focuses on perceived safety and use of honey, using data extracted for detailed analysis. Eleven parent focus groups ( n = 92) and 30 interviews with PHPs were conducted. Qualitative data analysis used the Framework approach. Setting London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow Results TCA, particularly home remedies, dietary and religious approaches were popular for children. Honey was a particularly common TCA, reportedly used by 27 (29%) parents for their children. Honey was believed to be traditional, acceptable, accessible, natural and safe. It was most commonly used for respiratory tract symptoms and administered with hot water and lemon juice. PHPs were more concerned about the safety of TCA than parents. Almost half (40%) of PHPs mentioned the use of honey for children, few perceived it as a ‘treatment’ or were concerned about botulism. Others were aware of the risks and some reported challenges in communicating risk to parents. Conclusion TCA are commonly used for children, honey in particular for respiratory tract symptoms. Parents and some PHPs appear unaware of the risk of botulism from honey use in infants. Healthcare practitioners should ask routinely about the use of honey and other TCA, and consider different parental belief systems in ethnically diverse populations. Further research is required on the use and efficacy of honey for infants, to raise awareness of its benefits and risks.