Formal handling routines in Jamaican infants. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the frequency of use and the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding the Formal Handling Routines (FHR) in rural and urban Jamaican infants. Analysis was made of the area of residence and educational level of the caregivers. The study included 194 caregivers, thirty-three community rehabilitation workers (CRWs) and 30 health care workers (HCWs). Depending on the level of understanding of the respondents, questionnaires were either self-administered or a personal interview was conducted. Caregivers with tertiary education differed significantly from the other caregivers both in frequency of use of the FHR and knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. Caregivers with tertiary education used the routine much less and had more negative attitudes towards it. This might be due to their better financial position, which allowed them to have helpers who cared for their children. HCWs also had significantly more negative beliefs about the FHR than CRWs and caregivers. It is possible that HCWs carried over their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour to the caregivers but if they did, it did not influence the majority of caregivers.(Au)