Mothers Knowledge Regarding Danger Signs of Newborn

Abstract

This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of mothers in urban and rural areas about new born danger signs. It included 200 mothers of infants (100 from urban and 100 from rural area), from the Paediatrics OPD and Paediatrics and Maternity Wards, of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the Comprehensive Rural Health Services Project (CRHSP), Ballabgarh. The data was collected using self-developed and semi structured interview schedule. The mean knowledge score of mothers regarding newborn danger signs was 39.3 percent. The urban mothers had a mean score of 44.7 percent (graded as ‘average’) as compared to rural mothers whose mean knowledge score was 32.94 percent (graded as ‘poor’). The urban mothers had significantly better knowledge as compared to rural mothers regarding newborn danger signs. Majority of mothers could state at least one symptom of hyperthermia 191 (95.5%), severe jaundice 162 (81%), lethargy150 (75%), respiratory distress 127 (63.5%), and hypothermia 103 (51.5%). Majority of mothers responded that if danger signs are observed in newborns then immediate medical consultation would be necessary. In rural area majority of mothers did not identify hypothermia (64%), convulsions (85%), skin pustules (65%), respiratory distress (54%) and severe dehydration (85%) as danger sign in newborns. The study showed that mothers had inadequate knowledge regarding newborn danger signs and their management. Educational interventions for mothers are needed to make them aware of the newborn danger signs and the need to seek care by qualified health providers for treatment.