Hardening procedures are a significant part of physioprophylaxis. They are essentially training aimed at increasing the resistance of a child's organism to weather factors (such as temperature, humidity, wind, etc.) and facilitating gradual adaptation to them. The means of physioprophylaxis are mainly natural: sun, air, water, movement, and nutrition. The purpose of this study is to research and analyze the awareness and attitude of parents regarding the application of hardening procedures to infants and children between 0 and 3 years old.
Materials and Methods: A survey was individually conducted among parents (n = 110) of children aged 0 to 3 in April 2023 using a questionnaire. The analysis methods were documentary, statistical comparative, and graphical.
Results and Discussion: A large proportion of parents are likely to apply hardening procedures to their child (82.7%). More than half of the participants want to be informed about hardening procedures by medical professionals (60%) or scientific publications (62.7%).
Conclusion: Hardening procedures have a direct correlation with child health, making children more resistant and strong enough against the adverse effects of the environment. Each child has different needs; therefore, medical practitioners should possess sufficient knowledge and skills to determine the most appropriate moment for starting hardening procedures and the best approach for introducing each procedure most effectively. One of the primary responsibilities of medical professionals should be to educate and support parents in implementing hardening procedures effectively.
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