The effect of protective bottom care protocol on the prevention of diaper rash development in children using antibiotics

Diaper rash is one of the inflammatory skin disorders which is common in little children and infants. It is possible to control the factors causing diaper rash and to prevent or reduce these diaper rash through a well bottom care.The purpose of this study is to determine the efficiency of protective bottom care in decreasing diaper rash of the infants 0-18 months old who are hospitalized and are taking antibiotics.The research was carried out in a prospective and semi-experimental way through control-experiment group. The sampling of the research involved the infants 0-18 months taking antibiotics and are hospitalized in Child Clinic of Dokuz Eylül University Research and Application Hospital between January and May in 2009. In the control group that did not attempt anything related to protective bottom care, there were 41 infants, while there were 42 in the experiment group that applied protective bottom care and used vaseline. The mothers of children in the experiment group were given education. All children were followed for 3-7 days, and the data were collected. Then, these data were assessed through computerized evaluation by using Pearson?s Chi-Square Test, Fisher?s exact Chi-Square Test, and Yates Corrected Chi-Square Test.It was observed that while the rate of diaper rash development in children of control group not applied protective bottom care was %34.1, this rate was %7.1 in those of experiment group applied protective bottom care and vaseline (p<.05). Moreover, the development of diaper rash in most of the children of control group was in 2 or 3 days and observed earlier when compared to those in experiment group, whereas this development was determined in the children of experiment group after 4 days. It was observed that the diaper rash in all of the children in experiment group was a first degree diaper rash, while it was second and third degree in the children of control group.As a result, the diaper rash development rate in children of experiment group applied protective bottom care and vaseline was significantly lower in comparison to the rate in children of control group not applied protective bottom care. Furthermore, the diaper rash development in children of experiment group initiated in later days and the degree of their diaper rash was lower.Because diaper rash is more common in children using antibiotics, it is suggested that the protective bottom care should be applied regularly, and vaseline should be used after every change of diapers and mothers should be educated about this subjects.Key Words: Diaper rash, Vaseline, Protective Bottom Care, Child, Antibiotic.