Effect of Newborn-care Practices for Postnatal Mothers on Occurrence of Selected Health Problems among Their Newborn Infants

Abstract

Newborn care practices by mothers immediately after birth are important determinants of neonatal mortality. To reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity, WHO recommends essential newborn care practices including promotion and support for early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, thermal protection including promoting skin-to-skin contact, hygienic, umbilical cord, eye care and skin care among others [1]. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effect of newborn-care practices for postnatal mothers on occurrence of selected health problems among their newborn infants. A total of 50 postnatal primigravida mothers with their newborn infants who attended the postnatal units at El-Manial maternity hospital in Cairo, Egypt, were recruited for this study. The required data was collected through A structured interview questionnaire; newborn follow-up sheet; (were developed by the researchers) and an observation checklist. Results indicated that the mean age of the study sample was 22.54± 3.62 years old, 64% of the postnatal mothers was living in rural areas, 60% of the postnatal mothers can read and write, 64% of the postnatal mothers' delivered male newborn, the birth weight of the newborn range was 2-3.75 Kg with a mean of 3.2±0.48 Kg, 76% of the newborn their GA ranged between 37-39 weeks. The results also revealed that a highly statistical significant difference has been found between means of mothers practice as regards eye care, cord care and diaper care pre and post intervention as (p<0.0001).In addition, there were highly statistically significant difference has been found between levels of practice between pre and post-practice as (p<0.0001). Regarding newborn follow-up, the results revealed that the minority of newborns (6%) developed diaper redness, 2% developed eye problem (discharge) and 96% their cord sloughed off before the end of the two weeks while 4% had delayed cord slough off. This study concluded that, mothers who received the newborn-care practices had higher total mean score of practice than before and the majority of them had satisfactory level of practice regarding the care of the newborn infants. The results also concluded that most of newborn infants of the mothers who received the intervention not exposed to the occurrence of diaper rash, eye problems and their cord slough off within expected time. Cite This Article: Eman Mohammed Eraky, and Eman Abdel Fattah Hassan, "Effect of Newborn-care Practices for Postnatal Mothers on Occurrence of Selected Health Problems among Their Newborn Infants."