title: Maternal knowledge and care-seeking behaviors for newborn jaundice in Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delay in the presentation of infants with jaundice at the hospital is a reason for the persistence of the severe forms of jaundice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the influence of maternal knowledge on newborn jaundice on their care-seeking practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, mothers whose infants presented with significant hyperbilirubinemia were assessed for knowledge about jaundice in relation to their care seeking behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 98 mothers, 57.1% had good knowledge on newborn jaundice. Most of the mothers with good knowledge had tertiary education (P = 0.004), had good care-seeking behavior for newborn jaundice (P = 0.027) and their infants did not develop kernicterus (P = 0.0001). Mothers with tertiary education also had significantly better performances on the knowledge and care-seeking evaluation scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal knowledge on newborn jaundice, as well as tertiary maternal education, influenced appropriate care-seeking behavior for infants with jaundice and reduced the risk of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ogunlesi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Abdul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal; D007647:Kernicterus; D009035:Mothers; D009549:Nigeria; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult