Knowledge and Health Care Seeking Behaviour About Neonatal Danger Signs Among Mothers Visiting Immunization Unit in Public Health Facilities of Debre Markos Town Northwest Ethiopia, June 2016

Abstract

Background: Worldwide the average neonatal mortality was estimated to be 33 per 1000 live births. It is estimated that each year four million neonatal deaths occur, and almost exclusively in low income countries. Danger signs in the neonatal period are nonspecific and can be a manifestation of almost any newborn disease. One of the component in reducing the newborn morbidity and mortality is early recognition of sick newborn and the danger signs of illness and initiation of prompt treatment.

Objective: To assess knowledge and health care seeking behaviour about neonatal danger signs among mothers visiting immunization unit in Public Health Facilities of Debre Markos Town 2016.

Method: A facility based cross sectional study will be employed to assess knowledge and health care seeking behaviour of mothers about neonatal danger signs among mothers visiting immunization unit in public health facilities of Debre Markos, North Waste Ethiopia. Quantitative method of data collection will be deployed by using pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire from a sample of 285 respondents. Systematic random sampling techniques were employed to select mothers with less than 1 year old infant.

Result: From the total respondents, about 197(69.1 %) mothers knew at least one neonatal danger signs. The most common mentioned neonatal danger signs were persistent vomiting, 133(70.7%), difficulty of breathing 132(69.8%), diarrhea 127(67.6%), and fever 124(66.0%).Only 35(18.6%), 26(9.7%), 8(2.9%) and 7(2.60%) identified pus discharge from umbilicus, hypothermia (decrease temperature), lethargy/unconsciousness and convulsions as neonatal danger signs respectively.

Conclusion and Recommendation: Most of the mothers were knowledgeable about neonatal danger signs. but, the rest who had no awareness and health care seeking practice should be addressed through maternal and child health services by designing an appropriate strategies including provision of targeted information, education and communication.

Keywords: Knowledge, Health care seeking behavior, Neonatal danger signs

DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/52-05