Paper short abstract:

Clinical research has focused more on the harmful effects of heat on the body than cold, yet humoral aetiologies of disease prescribing thermal balance are widespread globally. This paper looks at differences in thermal care beliefs and practices in three cultures and implications for health.

Paper long abstract:

The health and survival of human beings, as homeotherms, is dependent on maintaining body temperature within a range of only a few degrees in any environmental condition. Temperature regulation is achieved through a combination of physiological processes and behaviour. There are cultural variations in the way thermal care needs are understood particularly in relation to the effects of heat and cold on health. In some societies, humoral aetiologies of disease influence the prescription of balance of heat and cold to conserve health and life. By contrast, other societies consider heat particularly dangerous, whereas cold having the potential to protect health. This study compares infant thermal care beliefs of mothers in three communities - Guatemalan, white British and UK based South Asian. The methods used were ethnographic and mixed methods. Results describe how these beliefs impact on thermal care practices of these mothers. Humoral aetiologies of disease still have a major influence on thermal care and health behaviours. Lay epidemiology may influence choice and direction of clinical research that has traditionally focused more on the dangers of heat and higher body temperatures rather than the incidence and harmful effects of lower body temperatures and exposure to cold. The understanding of this potential bias is particularly relevant for clinical research into sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), fever, respiratory infections, neonatal hypothermia, measurement of vital signs, asthma and excess winter deaths.