Assessment of knowledge and practices on cord care among postnatal mothers attending public health facilities in Morogoro municipality

Abstract

Background: The lives of newborns depend on the mother’s knowledge of health care and practices about cord care. It is because the cord stump is the major means of entry for infections after birth. Clean cord care practices help to prevent infections and hence reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. In this study, we assessed knowledge and practices on cord care among postnatal mothers attending public health facilities in Morogoro municipal. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study that used a quantitative approach that involved 251 postnatal mothers attending a postnatal clinic during the study time. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 21.0. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were done whereby logistic regression and the chi-square test to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. Results: Out of 251 postnatal mothers (95.2%) got information about postnatal checkups at the health facility. Also, 132(52.6%) had adequate knowledge and 47(4%) had inadequate knowledge. The majority (85.7%) stated that the cord stump should be handled with a clean dressing/cover and 80.1% of them reported that the cord stump should not be wet/soiled. Of all factors assessed only education level showed a significant relationship with the knowledge of cord care; the higher the education level, the higher the knowledge of cord care. Mothers who at least attended primary, secondary or higher education more often had adequate knowledge about cord care as compared to mothers with no formal education. Conclusion: The level of knowledge among the study participants about cord care was moderately satisfactory. This study identified that level of education was an independent predictor of their level of knowledge about cord care. Mentorship session for nurses and midwives about postnatal care services is hence needed and also mothers need competency-based training from nurses and midwives about cord care.