Knowledge and practice of postnatal mother in newborn care

Neonatal mortality has continued to increase as a percentage (>60%) of overall infant mortality. Any further reduction in infant mortality is dependent on saving more newborn lives. It is possible if their mothers are knowledgeable and provide proper newborn care. Therefore, the objective of the study was to find out knowledge and practice of the postnatal mothers about newborn care.

A descriptive study was done among 100 purposively selected post natal mothers admitted in Teaching Hospital. Newborn care practice was observed among 20 mothers and comparison was done between knowledge and practice. Semi-structured interview questionnaire and observation checklist was used to collect the data. The descriptive statistics was used.

Respondents' mean knowledge was on keeping newborn warm 44.2, on newborn care 47.2, on immunization 67.33, on danger signs 35.63. All (100%) respondents had have knowledge and practice to feed colostrums and exclusive breast feeding, 70 (70%) knew about early initiation of breastfeeding. Mean knowledge and practice of respondents was on measures to keep warm 8.5 and 17. Although 60 (60%) had knowledge to wash hands before breastfeeding, and after diaper care, only 10 (10%) followed it in practice. Mean practice of successful breast feeding was 37.5, 12 (60%) applied nothing kept cord dry.

Postnatal mothers have adequate knowledge on areas like early, exclusive breast feeding, colostrums feeding, they have not much satisfactory knowledge in areas like hand washing, danger signs etc. While comparing knowledge with practice regarding newborn care, practice looks better in many areas.