Neonatal care practice and associated factors among mothers of infants 0–6 months old in North Shewa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Worldwide, the magnitudes of neonatal mortality are estimated to be about 3 million due to insufficient care. The burden of neonatal mortality is high in Ethiopia as compared to high and middle-income countries. The study aimed to assess the neonatal care practice and associated factors among mothers of infants 0–6 months old in Northern Shewa, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was undertaken on a mother living in the North Shewa zone from September 2019 to June 2020. Neonatal care practice was assessed by World Health Organization (WHO) minimum neonatal care package indicators. Over the study period, a total of 245 (62.0%) mothers had a good neonatal care practice. Being urban areas [AOR 5.508, 95% CI 2.170, 13.984], having ANC follow-up [AOR 3.042, 95% CI 1.031, 12.642], lack of adequate information [AOR 0.123, 95% CI 0.054, 0.282] and post-natal care (PNC) [AOR 5.779, 95% CI 2.315, 14.425] were predictors of good neonatal care practice. In our study, there was moderate neonatal care practice among mothers. Therefore, all elements of neonatal care packages should be studied at large.