THERMOMETER USE AMONG MEXICAN IMMIGRANT MOTHERS IN CALIFORNIA

A community-based household survey was utilized to assess the relation ship between thermometer use, home treatment and utilization of health care services. Using a cross-sectional design, the study surveyed 688 low income Mexican origin mothers of children between the ages of 8 a nd 16 months in San Diego County. Mothers were asked how they determin e that their child has fever and how often they use a thermometer. Nea rly 40% of low income Mexican mothers interviewed in San Diego county never used a thermometer for determining childhood fever. Approximatel y two-thirds (64.7%) relied either primarily or exclusively on embodie d methods such as visual observation or touch to determine fever in th eir child. A multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that low education and a separated or divorced marital status decreased th e odds of thermometer use, whereas regular contact with the health car e system doubled the likelihood of thermometer use. Mothers who relied on embodied methods were more likely to use over-the-counter medicati ons than those who relied on thermometers; however, no significant dif ferences were found between groups using other methods of home treatme nt. Fever determination modalities can be used to screen for lack of a ccess to care and to provide for other health care needs in a cultural ly appropriate manner. While clinicians' expectations may include pare ntal experience with temperature taking, current pediatric literature questions the need for home-based thermometer use. Possible alternativ es to the traditional rectal thermometer might include digital thermom eters and color coded thermometer strips. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Lt d.