Nurse's Knowledge Associated with the Routine Essential Newborn Care after Birth in Baghdad City

Abstract

The care given to newborns immediately within the first few hours of birth is critical for their survival. The neonatal period is a transitional period immediately after birth and is critical for their survival and existence. Essential newborn care is one of the significant strategies for neonatal survival, especially immediately after delivery. Pediatric Nurses are the key healthcare providers who care for neonates immediately after birth. Aim of the study~was to assess Nurse's Knowledge Associated with the Routine Essential Newborn Care after birth in Baghdad City. A descriptive design was utilized for this study. The setting The study was conducted at Al-Elwiya Maternity Teaching and the Private Nursing Home Hospitals in Baghdad. Sample: According to inclusion criteria, a purposive sample consisted of 60 participants (Pediatric/ midwives nurses). Tools: The questionnaire was constructed and developed and includes two parts: the first includes A structured Nurse demographic characteristics Sheet, and the second includes nurses' knowledge about immediate newborn care. Results:The results of the present study indicated that 45 (75.0%) of nurses had fair knowledge and (10%) had good knowledge, only (15.0%) of them had poor knowledge. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, the study concluded that only 10% of nurses has good knowledge of routine essential newborn care after birth. The socio-demographic characteristics of nurses do not affect their knowledge, except for years of experience working in the delivery room, which has a significant effect on the level of pediatric/midwives nurses' knowledge. Recommendation: Replication of the study on large samples of pediatric/ midwives nurses. Also, an Education program for pediatric/midwife nurses about immediate newborn care to improve their knowledge and practice.