Knowledge and Practice of Newborn Care Among Mothers of Infants in Kavrepalanchok District

Abstract

Background: In many communities around the world, newborn deaths are so commonplace that children are not even named until they survive their first month of life. Aims and Objectives: to identify the knowledge and practice of newborn care among mothers of infants. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was carried out with the sample of 96 mothers having less than 12 months old baby (infants) interviewed in two VDC of Kavrepalanchok district. Chi-square test was used to find out the significance of newborn care and its knowledge and practice. Result: out of 96 mothers approximately 78% have inadequate knowledge and 7.3% mother have unsafe practice on newborn care. Respondents were highly aware of interval of breastfeeding (33%), colostrums feeding (96%), cleanliness (93.8%) and thermal protection (78.1%) of babies. Approximately one-third of respondents (33.3%) lacking knowledge on umbilicus cord care. Regarding practice, approximately one in four respondents initiate breastfeeding within one hour after birth, more than 80% practice rooming in, all most all respondents postpone bath for first 24 hours of birth, Nearly two third of respondents(61.5%) practice of applying oil in umbilicus, more than 90% mother clean their baby’s eyes and all babies was fully immunized. The Association was found between parity of mother (P-value<0.04) and place of birth (P-value<0.04) to knowledge on newborn care and parity of mother to the practice of newborn care (P-value<0.03).Conclusion: study findings conclude that there was a huge gap between knowledge and practice on newborn care.