Knowledge of essential newborn care among caregivers in Ga West Municipality, Ghana
Eunice Akosua Brobbey Agyemfra Fianko1, Kwaku Owusu-Ansah2, Samuel Dery3
1Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Background:
Essential newborn care (ENC) is a key strategy for reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. Caregivers' knowledge of recommended newborn care practices influences the quality of care provided during the neonatal period. This study assessed knowledge of essential newborn care and factors associated with good knowledge among postnatal mothers in the Ga West Municipality of Ghana.
Methods:
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 351 postnatal mothers attending child welfare clinics. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge across four domains of essential newborn care. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and knowledge levels categorized as poor (< 40%), average (40-80%), or good (> 80%). Simple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with good knowledge, and variables significant at p < 0.05 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model using backward stepwise selection.
Results:
Most respondents demonstrated average overall knowledge of essential newborn care (85.42%), while 14.29% had good knowledge and 0.29% had poor knowledge. Knowledge was highest for breastfeeding and vaccination but comparatively lower for eye and cord care and neonatal danger signs. In the adjusted analysis, mothers aged 35 years and above (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.31-11.18), married mothers (AOR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.10-11.19), mothers with tertiary education (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.62-7.20), and Christian mothers (AOR = 6.85, 95% CI: 1.96-23.91) were significantly more likely to have good knowledge of essential newborn care.
Conclusions:
Although most mothers demonstrated average knowledge of essential newborn care, important gaps remain in eye and cord care and recognition of neonatal danger signs. Maternal age, marital status, educational attainment, and religion were identified as independent predictors of good knowledge. Findings should be interpreted considering the facility-based cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data.
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