Knowledge, attitude, and practice of neonatal jaundice: a cross-sectional study in adult population in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is a prevalent and preventable condition in newborns and is significantly associated with developing countries' morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to measure the awareness of adults in Saudi Arabia of their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding NNJ. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to measure the awareness of NNJ problems in Saudi Arabia during June 1-30, 2021. A self-administered questionnaire evaluating the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of a sample of adult populations concerning this problem was employed for the study. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science software. Results: The study was conducted among 336 adults, including both genders. Among them, 71.6% of participants were college students, single (69%), unemployed 79.7%, and of low-income level (57.3%). The majority of the participants did not have a history of NNJ (63.9%) and the primary source of their knowledge was friends and relatives (26.9%). The participants' attitude was positive toward seeking medical assistance for the problem. Further 27.3% of participants took their children to the hospital. However, we noticed a misconception about the benefits of sunlight treatment among adults as 36.7% of participants agreed with sunlight efficacy in preventing NNJ. Conclusion: This study reported a moderate knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding NNJ. For this reason, we recommended developing educational programs and campaigns to enhance the level of awareness of NNJ.