Nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge regarding neonatal resuscitation in public hospitals of south wollo zone of Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundNeonatal mortality is among major public health problems in developing nations with its major cause birth asphyxia. Birth asphyxia could be managed by Resuscitation of Neonates which is mainly implemented by nurses and midwives. This study aimed to assess nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge regarding Neonatal Resuscitation in the Public Hospitals of the South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia. MethodsInstitution-based cross-sectional study design was used to recruit study participants working in the Labor and Neonatal Intensive Care Units of all public hospitals of the study zone. The sample size was calculated based on a single population proportion formula with the assumption of 95 % accuracy, 5 % error, 50 % previous estimated extent of knowledge towards Neonatal Resuscitation and 10 % non-response rate. Using the correction formula, the final calculated sample size was 143. Study participants were selected using a simple random sampling method from each public hospital of the study zone, after proportional allocation of calculated sample size to all public hospitals included in the study. The data collection tool was developed from similar literatures, guidelines, and training manuals. The internal validity of the study tool was attested by experts in the subject matter like neonatologists, expert nurses and midwives who specialized in neonatology care and researchers. Then, the content validity index of the study tool was calculated and rated at 0.89. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to attest statistically significant factors with the extent of knowledge towards Neonatal Resuscitation at a P-value < 0.05. ResultsA total of 143 nurses’ and midwives’ completed questionnaire was analyzed for this study with a 100 % response rate. Overall, about one third 54 (37.8 %) of the study participants had adequate knowledge towards Neonatal Resuscitation. The study revealed that study participants who took on job training [P < 0.01], presence of Neonatal Resuscitation guide in the working unit [P < 0.02], got supportive supervision within preceding six months of this study [P < 0.05] were found positively associated with knowledge level of the study participants towards Neonatal Resuscitation. ConclusionsThis study found the knowledge level of Neonatal Resuscitation among nurses and midwives who participated in this study is scarce. Getting on-job training, having a Neonatal Resuscitation guideline in the working unit and getting supportive supervision within preceding six months of this study were found statistically significantly associated with the knowledge level of the study participants towards Neonatal Resuscitation.