Assessment of knowledge on neonatal danger signs among postnatal mothers in Base Hospital Kinniya

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Maternal knowledge on neonatal danger signs is crucial for timely identification of serious health problems in neonates. This study aims to describe the knowledge on neonatal danger signs among post-natal mothers at Base Hospital Kinniya. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Base Hospital Kinniya from October to December 2016. All mothers in postnatal wards were recruited at discharge after obtaining informed consent. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS for windows. Ethical approval was obtained from the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. RESULTS: A total of 384 mothers were recruited; majority (95.8%) were Muslims. Most (50.5%) were aged between 18-25 years, 6.8% were employed and 90.9% had secondary education. Majority (88.3%) were planned pregnancies, 33.6% were primigravida and all attended antenatal clinics. Nearly 80% had received health education during the antenatal period. Only 2.3% of mothers could identify all neonatal danger signs accurately. Only 83.1% identified hypothermia as a danger sign while only 14.1% identified posseting as normal. Significantly higher proportion of mothers aged below 35 years (54.6%) had a good knowledge on danger signs compared to elderly mothers (33.3%) [χ2=5.91, p<0.05]. Higher proportion with uncomplicated pregnancies (54.7%) had a good knowledge compared to complicated pregnancies (37.0%) [χ2=5.13, p<0.05]. Age at marriage, maternal education level, parity or antenatal health education were not associated with better knowledge on neonatal danger signs. CONCLUSION: Overall knowledge on neonatal danger signs is unsatisfactory among postnatal mothers at Base Hospital Kinniya. Elderly mothers and mothers with antenatal complications have significantly poor knowledge on neonatal danger signs.