title: Neonatal care - what do mothers in a rural Nigerian community know and practice?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nigeria ranks among developing countries with poor neonatal health indices. This underscores the need for households and healthcare providers to understand the concept of newborn care and react appropriately and timely too.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the knowledge and practices of mothers in the Elele community regarding neonatal care.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a community-based descriptive cross sectional study of 380 mothers who had a neonate. Mothers were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected by interview using a semi-structured questionnaire (with closed and open ended questions) and analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences version 22.0. Chi-square test was used to identify statistically significant associations among antenatal care clinic (ANC) attendance cum place of delivery and neonatal care practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety one (23.9%) of respondents were aware of at least four out of nine danger signs, while all reported wrapping their babies within 10 minutes after birth. Duration less than six hours from birth to first bath, feeding with or discarding of colostrum and timing of first breastfeeding within the first hour of birth were significantly associated with ANC attendance (p = 0.000, p = 0.002 and p = 0.000 respectively). Duration less than six hours to first bath, umbilical cord care and feeding with or discarding of colostrum were significantly associated with health facility delivery (p = 0.043, p = 0.026 and p = 0.003 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inadequate knowledge of newborn care among mothers was found, while non-ANC attendance and non-health facility delivery were associated with inappropriate neonatal care practices. We recommend comprehensive behavior change interventions, to promote proper neonatal care practices.
authors: Department of HIV Care and Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.
authors: C C
authors: CC
authors: Nnebue
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Imo State University/University Teaching Hospital Orlu, Nigeria.
authors: C B
authors: CB
authors: Duru
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Imo State University/University Teaching Hospital Orlu, Nigeria.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Uwakwe
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University/University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.
authors: C O
authors: CO
authors: Ifeadike
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Madonna University Elele, Nigeria.
authors: B C
authors: BC
authors: Anyanwu
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Madonna University Elele, Nigeria.
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Adinnu
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Madonna University Elele, Nigeria.
authors: P O
authors: PO
authors: Nwaneri
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Madonna University Elele, Nigeria.
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Ufoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Elele Nigeria; Rural mothers; knowledge; neonatal care; practice