Newborn Care Practice and Associated Factors Among Mothers of a Child Less Than Six Month in Bonke District, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A Community-Based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Information is limited about practice of mothers on newborn care at home level. Appropriate newborn care during birth is imperative for the survival, growth, and development of a newborn. In Ethiopia, neonatal mortality remains high and accounts for about half of the under-five mortality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the status of home-based newborn care practices and its associated factors among mothers of children whose age is less than six months in Bonke District, Southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 613 mothers having an infant whose age is six months and less in Bonke district from March 15 to April 15, 2018. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were carried out using binary logistic regression to assess the association between explanatory variables and newborn care practice.  Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. The status of newborn care practice was  391 (65.6%) with 95% CI (0.61, 0.69) among the respondents, the level of education, monthly income, a home visit by health extension workers, counseling on the hand and breast washing, counseling on keeping baby warm, and the knowledge of mothers were significantly associated with newborn care practice. The proportion of newborn care practice was not satisfactory as per the recommendation of WHO. Hence, much work is needed to improve newborn care practice among women. Empowering women, increasing, and providing continuous support about appropriate newborn care practice throughout the maternal continuum care is mandatory to come up with a significant increase in newborn care practice.