Parents respond to the flu
March 29, 2012
SIXTY percent of Australian
mums are very likely to cancel
plans and stay at home with sick
children, according to a new
Newspoll survey.
Conducted on behalf of
pharmacy-only brand Wagner
Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, the
survey took into account responses
from 1,200 Australians aged 18-64,
and found that 61% of mums would
also let their sick child sleep in their
bed to comfort them, compared to
55% of fathers.
86% of parents with children
younger than 12 were likely to take
the day off work to stay home with
their sick child, and three in five
said they would not send their child
to school or day care if they were
ill, even if they had been given
medicine.
These results are interesting in
light of the fact that 78% of women
and 65% of men believed they were
at major risk of catching a cold or
flu from a sick person at home,
whilst 75% of women and 59% of
men said that being overworked,
rundown or stressed was a major
risk factor in getting the flu.
Women were also found to be
more at risk of catching a cold or flu
from being subject to a child
sneezing in their face with 71%
experiencing this, compared to just
59% of men.
MEANWHILE in terms of flu
behaviour, Australians, it seems, do
not have the most hygienic habits,
with nine out of ten people saying
that they have witnessed people
who do not use a tissue or hanky to
wipe their nose, four in five having
seen people wipe their nose on
their sleeve, and around half having
had someone sneeze on the back
of their neck, or experienced a
“snotty handshake”.
The most common preventative
techniques used to stop cold and
flu, according to the survey results,
included hand washing, with nine
out of ten respondents saying they
regularly wash their hands.
86% of women also said they ate
plenty of fresh fruit and vege,
compared to 77% of men; whilst men
were more likely to get a flu shot
(43%) compared to women (34%).
In addition, 53% of Aussies said that
they make use of vitamins and
supplements to ward off cold and
flu.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 29 Mar 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 29 Mar 12
