Prevention of Infection in Neonates among Staff Nurses Working in Pediatric Units: a Discussion

Abstract

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) stated that 1/3rd of neonatal deaths occur due to the improper care or due to infections e.g. pneumonia, tetanus, neonatal diarrhea, etc. Most of the newborn deaths can be avoided by effective management of complications and management of infection, and other daily care also have important preventive effects like breastfeeding, eye care, etc. In order to reduce the infant mortality rate and to contribute to the health for all by 2025 AD goal, is the responsibility of each health care providers, to control and prevent neonatal infection especially in a neonatal intensive care unit, where specialized care is rendered to the citizens of tomorrow. The staff nurses care effect on neonates’ health and if it is severe, it can cause death. The study was undertaken to find the knowledge of staff nurses working in pediatric units in selected hospitals, Kota (Rajasthan), on neonatal infection in neonates. Methods: In view of the nature of the problem selected and objective to be accomplished descriptive survey research approach was considered appropriate to assess the knowledge of staff nurses working in pediatric units, on prevention of infection in neonates. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to select the samples. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. Findings revealed that mean score of knowledge was 22.09 with standard deviation 6.58. This indicates that staff nurses had moderate knowledge regarding prevention of infection in neonates. In the present study, it is evident that the demographic variables such as age, sex, religion, income per month and years of experience in hospital, the calculated chi square value is less than the critical value at p<0.05 level of significance. So null hypothesis is accepted and research hypothesis is rejected. While demographic variables such as educational status, position in hospital, years of experience in pediatric units and previous sources of information, the calculated chi square value is higher than the critical value at p<0.05 level of significance. So null hypothesis is rejected and research hypothesis is accepted. Conclusion: Findings revealed that mean score of knowledge was 22.09 with standard deviation 6.58. This indicates that staff nurses had moderate knowledge regarding prevention of infection in neonates.