Abstract
Background: Worldwide the average neonatal mortality was estimated to be 33 per 1000 live births. It is estimated that each year four million neonatal deaths occur, and almost exclusively in low income countries. Danger signs in the neonatal period are nonspecific and can be a manifestation of almost any newborn disease. One of the component in reducing the newborn morbidity and mortality is early recognition of sick newborn and the danger signs of illness and initiation of prompt treatment. Objective: To assess knowledge and health care seeking behaviour about neonatal danger signs among mothers visiting immunization unit in Public Health Facilities of Debre Markos Town 2016. Method : A facility based cross sectional study will be employed to assess knowledge and health care seeking behaviour of mothers about neonatal danger signs among mothers visiting immunization unit in public health facilities of Debre Markos, North Waste Ethiopia. Quantitative method of data collection will be deployed by using pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire from a sample of 285 respondents. Systematic random sampling techniques were employed to select mothers with less than 1 year old infant. Result: From the total respondents, about 197(69.1 %) mothers knew at least one neonatal danger signs. The most common mentioned neonatal danger signs were persistent vomiting, 133(70.7%), difficulty of breathing 132(69.8%), diarrhea 127(67.6%), and fever 124(66.0%).Only 35(18.6%), 26(9.7%), 8(2.9%) and 7(2.60%) identified pus discharge from umbilicus, hypothermia (decrease temperature), lethargy/unconsciousness and convulsions as neonatal danger signs respectively. Conclusion and Recommendation : Most of the mothers were knowledgeable about neonatal danger signs. but, the rest who had no awareness and health care seeking practice should be addressed through maternal and child health services by designing an appropriate strategies including provision of targeted information, education and communication. Keywords : Knowledge, Health care seeking behavior, Neonatal danger signs DOI : 10.7176/JMPB/52-05
Highlights
Worldwide the average neonatal mortality is estimated to be 33 per 1000 live births
More than 40% of under-five deaths occur in the first month of life—the neonatal period; achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG-4) for child survival depends on more effectively addressing neonatal deaths, early deaths in the first week of life
Infant mortality Rate (IMR) is 59 deaths per 1,000 live births for the five year before the survey compared with 77 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005
Summary
Worldwide the average neonatal mortality is estimated to be 33 per 1000 live births. It is estimated that each year four million neonatal deaths occur, and almost exclusively in low income countries [1]. The greatest gap in newborn care is often during the critical first week of life when most neonatal deaths often occur at home and without any contact with the formal health sector These conditions can be managed if mothers are aware of newborn danger signs and develop experience of early recognition and health care seeking behavior for newborn illness. This study will assess knowledge of mothers about newborn danger signs and their health care seeking behavior. The results of the study will be used as base line information to design appropriate policies, strategies, and intervention, which can improve mothers’ early recognition of newborn danger signs and their health care seeking behavior and support the maternal and child health service improvement. The results of the study will add the evidence about mother’s recognition of newborn danger signs and give background information for further studies in neonatal health and newborn survival
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