![]() ![]() ![]() The most common enema contained traditional Zulu medicine made from herbs, given more than once weekly, usually for perceived constipation the most common oral medication was gripe water, given once daily, mainly for ‘colic’ or ‘wind’. Results A total of 107 (97%) infants received non-prescribed medications in the first 3 months of life: 98 (89%) rectally and 64 (58%) orally. Determinants of administration of non-prescribed medication were analysed, including maternal age, education, infant gender and socio-economic factors. Any medications given to the infant since the last visit, the reasons for their administration, and any visits made to traditional healers were recorded via a semi-structured questionnaire. Methods As part of an ongoing study on breastfeeding, a cohort of 110 infants were visited at home at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Objective This paper describes the use of non-prescribed medications given to a cohort of infants in the first 3 months of life in a rural South African district, and discusses some of the implications for primary health care.
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