Neonatal Home-Care Practices of Mothers in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State

Abstract

This study investigated neonatal home-care practices of mothers in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. 398 nursing mothers participated in a longitudinal survey to evaluate the newborn home-care behaviors of mothers in Ihiala, Anambra State. For the study, newly delivered moms who gave their informed consent were progressively selected from communities in each town in Ihiala, L.G.A., Anambra State. Data was gathered from the women in their homes using a questionnaire that the researchers had devised, tested, and validated. Data collected were loaded into SPSS version 23. Data were analyzed and summarized in tables of frequencies and percentages. The study's findings demonstrated that, despite being below the specified level of 75% and above, the majority of moms received adequate cord and thermoregulatory care, with mean scores of 65.48 and 73.6%. There was still evidence of subpar neonatal care practices in the area, including the use of tooth paste (12.9%), shea butter (27.9%), and herbs (27.4%) on the cord, as well as the non-practice of exclusive breastfeeding (72.6%) and skin-to-skin care (75.6%). Neonatal practices are influenced by age, parity, education, occupation, and delivery location. Despite their high level of awareness, it was found that the mothers did not perform proper neonatal home care. To enhance neonatal care practices and empower moms to make educated decisions about their own and their child's health, it is advised that maternal education and women's empowerment be promoted.