Knowledge and management practices of infantile colic among mothers attending the paediatric outpatient clinic in port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Infantile colic is a functional gastrointestinal disorder not explained by organic or biochemical abnormalities. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and practice of infantile colic management among mothers in Southern Nigeria. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out over one-year period using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results: Of 327 mothers recruited, most were of age group 28-37 years 204 (62.4%), had tertiary level of education 226 (69.1%), with parity of two 214 (65.4%) and were presently nursing infants of 1-12 months of age 227 (69.4%). Majority 259 (79.2%) lived in urban areas and belonged to the upper socioeconomic class 163 (49.8%). Most mothers 249 (76.1%) had heard of infantile colic majorly from parents/relatives/in-laws (29.1%). Majority of them said colic was a physiologic process 201 (82.0%) while 142 (58.0%), due to gas in the intestines. Incorrect knowledge of features of colic included vomiting, passage of green-coloured stools and fever. Most mothers had good knowledge of infantile colic (44.3%) and this was significantly associated with higher level of education and socioeconomic class. Most children 206 (63.0%) brought to the clinic had had infantile colic which started mostly at 0-4 months 223 (68.2%) and resolved by 3-5 months of age 171 (52.3%). The most common treatment practices were the use of nospamin (38.1%) and grippe water (33.5%), prescribed mostly by healthcare workers (27.3%) and purchased from chemist shops (71.8%). Conclusion: There was good knowledge of infantile colic among mothers in the study. However, there is still need to increase public enlightenment on the benign and self-limiting nature of infantile colic.