[Levels of maternal anxiety and their use in pediatric primary health care]. / Niveles de ansiedad materna y utilización pediátrica en atención primaria.

Of a total population of a pediatric office of the Zaidin South Health Care Center, all of the mothers that were frequent users (69) were chosen and compared with a random sample of normal users (82). Both groups carried out the anxiety scale STAI. Significant differences were found in that the high users have greater levels of anxiety about trait (p = 0.0003), as well as state (p = 0.000). The high levels of anxiety of trait are associated with being a house wife, having a child with a chronic illness, non maternal lactation, low levels of studies, health education and family income. Family income was the variable with the greatest association with the anxiety of trait (multiple regression). When we took into consideration the variables of predisposition, availability and ease of use, the maternal anxiety continued to have a significant influence. We point out the importance of maternal anxiety in the high frequency of pediatric health care use and we underline the modifiable characteristics of the anxiety factor, and therefore the possibility of reducing the high use of health care services addressed.

[Maternal health knowledge and its use in pediatrics in primary care]. / Cultura sanitaria materna y utilización pediátrica en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To find the nature of the relationship between the general level of mothers' health knowledge and the over-use of paediatric facilities at the Primary Care level. DESIGN: A crossover study with a control group. SITE. Zaidin-Sur Health Centre (Granada). PATIENTS OR OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: We selected all the over-users (69) of a Paediatric office and compared them to a random sample, grouped by age, of normal users (82); n = 151. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: To control confusion, we measured a total of 31 variables, grouped as to need, predisposition and expediting factors. After validating the scales, the average scores for general health understanding and the score for clinical attitudes and knowledge were significantly lower in the over-user group (p = 0.017 and p = 0.000). The scale for attitudes to and knowledge of prevention did not attain any importance (p = 0.104). We worked out a model of multiple logistical regression which included in the equation the scale of clinical attitudes and knowledge (p less than 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: We emphasised the importance of mothers' health knowledge to the question of over-use of paediatric facilities. It is desirable to attempt to intervene on this question in order to lessen excessive use of health facilities.