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Abstract

A descriptive epidemiology of maternal knowledge on neonatal danger signs is required to identify gaps and barriers for late health seeking behavior and reduce the burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality. A community based, descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the factors associated with maternal knowledge on neonatal danger signs among mothers attending child welfare clinics in Piliyandala MOH area. Data collection was done using pre tested structured questionnaire. Confidence intervals and p value for statistical significance were determined 95% and the p=0.05 level. 294 mothers were enrolled in the study. Knowledge related identification of danger signs was more than 90%. But nearly 30% of mothers did not identify the going off feeds and cold to touch as danger signs. Overall, most of the respondents 77.6% (228) had moderate knowledge of neonatal danger signs while 15% were highly knowledgeable, and 7.5% were poorly knowledgeable. Health seeking behavior assessed for urgent and critically sick neonate, selecting health care institution with the child with danger signs and selecting of health care professional when child get sick. Reasons for possible delayed heath care seeking were assessed during the study. Level of knowledge and association with demographic factors were examined. Age of participants, educational level, employment status, monthly income type of family and parity were some factors that checked for significant association. Need to enhance education of mothers’ knowledge further health education is required to enhance the knowledge on neonatal danger signs those who have poor and moderate knowledge.

Biography

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