Assessment of the Quality of Newborn Care Practices in the La Dade Kotopon Municipality

Abstract

Background: Several neonatal deaths have been reported in developing countries such as Ghana despite a marginal decrease over the years. Majority of these deaths occur due to inappropriate or poorly practiced newborn care specifically safe cord care, optimal thermal care and early and exclusive breastfeeding. There is limited information about the quality of essential newborn care practiced by mothers in the Greater Accra region. This information is needed to inform policy makers and create awareness. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the quality of newborn care practices in La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 mothers and caregivers in two hospitals namely La General Hospital and the Police Hospital in the La-Dade Kotopon Municipality using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted using STATA version 15 and association between variables was tested using Chi square test and Logistic regression. Results: The study showed that 263 (62.20%) respondents had adequate knowledge regarding essential newborn care and 308 (72.80%) respondents practiced good newborn care. The likelihood of good newborn care practices was lower among those aged 30-34 years [AOR = 0.25, CI: 0.08 – 0.79], those who were unemployed [AOR = 0.19, CI: 0.05 – 0.68], those who gave birth at home [AOR = 0.08, CI: 0.15 – 0.51] and those who commenced antenatal visit in the third trimester [AOR = 0.02, CI: 0.01 – 0.35]. Conclusion: Adequate knowledge about essential newborn care practices and good newborn care practices was relatively high among the respondents. Improving sources of livelihood and targeted education to encourage early antenatal visits and facility-based births might improve newborn care where it is inadequate.