Factors Influencing Newborn Care Practices among Mothers in Savelugu Nanton Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Reducing neonatal mortality has been a major challenge for world leaders, agencies and organizations in developing countries particularly in the African sub-region. In Ghana, almost half of child mortalities occur in the first 28 days after birth. There are recommended basic and cost effective interventions to reduce neonatal deaths. Mother’s knowledge and practice of these basic interventions plays an important role in reducing neonatal deaths. Objective: This study sought to examine the knowledge of mothers and the factor that influence their practice of the recommended newborn care interventions. Methods: A facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted. A sample of 280 mothers with children aged less than 6 months old were recruited into the study. Participants were proportionally selected from 9 health facilities. Systematic random sampling technique was employed in selecting participants. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. A total of 276 questionnaires were completed. Data were entered using Epidata and exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with newborn care practice of mothers. Odds ratios were calculated to measure the strength of association with 95% confidence interval. Results: Maternal knowledge and prevalence of practice of essential newborn care in this study were (68%) and (56%) respectively. Mothers aged 26-35 years old were four times likely to practice good newborn care compared to younger mothers (AOR =4.0; CI 1.19 - 13.26). Mothers who delivered their baby at the health facility were twice likely to practice recommended newborn care actions compared to who delivered at home (AOR=2.06; CI 1.03 - 4.12). Conclusion: Mothers’ knowledge on essential newborn care and prevalence of practice was fairly good. However, there were gaps in knowledge and practice of mothers on some of the components of recommended newborn care which must be addressed. Age of mother and place of delivery are important factors to consider in the design of interventions to reduce neonatal mortality. There is the need for follow up through home visits to reinforce mother’s practice of the essential newborn care.