Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

The home‑based care of children suffering from common ailments such as fever and cold is largely dependent on the knowledge and hygiene practices of caregivers. This research titled “Evaluating the Knowledge and Practices of Caregivers on Hygiene During Home‑Based Care of Fever/Cold in Children” investigates caregiver awareness of hygiene protocols (hand‑washing, safe food handling, respiratory etiquette), their practical application during childhood febrile and respiratory events, and factors influencing these behaviours. Prior research indicates critical gaps in caregiver knowledge and home management of febrile children across diverse settings. For example, studies in Nigeria ^[1], Bangladesh ^[2], Ghana ^[3] and Sri Lanka ^[4] reveal sub‑optimal understanding of fever definition, temperature measurement and antipyretic use; while research also highlights poor hygiene practices during caregiving ^[6].

The objective of the present research is three‑fold:

1. To assess the level of knowledge of caregivers regarding hygiene during home‑based management of fever/cold in children;
2. To document actual hygiene practices employed during such episodes; and
3. To identify socio‑demographic, educational and health‑literacy‑related determinants of knowledge and practice.

We hypothesise that caregivers with higher formal education, prior health‑education exposure and no more than two children will demonstrate significantly better hygiene knowledge and apply safer home‑based practices than caregivers lacking those attributes. The findings are expected to guide targeted interventions for caregiver education within paediatric home‑care frameworks.