title: Knowledge of neonatal danger signs among mothers attending well baby clinic in Nakuru Central District, Kenya: cross sectional descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neonatal mortality has remained high in Kenya despite various efforts being applied to reduce this negative trend. Early detection of neonatal illness is an important step towards improving new born survival. Toward this end there is need for the mothers to be able to identify signs in neonates that signifies severe neonatal illnesses. The objective of the study was to determine the level of knowledge of mothers attending well baby clinics on postnatal neonatal danger signs and determine the associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purposive sampling of Health care facilities that provide antenatal, delivery and postnatal services were identified. In each of the selected health facility structured questionnaires were administered to mothers with children aged six weeks to nine months attending well baby clinics. Frequencies, Chi square and multivariate logistic regression were determined using the SPSS software (version 20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period of study 414 mothers attending well baby clinics were interviewed. Information on neonatal dangers was not provided to 237 (57.2%) of the postnatal mothers during their antenatal clinic attendance by the health care providers. Majority of mothers 350 (84.5%) identified less than three neonatal danger signs. Hotness of the body (fever) was the commonly recognized danger sign by 310 (74.9%) postnatal mothers. Out of 414 mothers 193 (46.6%), 166 (40.1%), 146 (35.3%) and 24 (5.8%) identified difficulty in breathing, poor sucking, jaundice and lethargy/unconsciousness as new born danger signs respectively. Only 46 (11.1%) and 40 (9.7%) identified convulsion and hypothermia as new born danger signs respectively. Education Level, PNC accompaniment by Spouse, Danger signs information to Mother, Explanation of MCH booklet by Care provider during ANC and Mother read MCH Booklet were factors positively associated with improved knowledge of neonatal danger sign. In multivariate logistic regression none of the factors tested were statistically significant in relation to level of knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of neonatal danger signs was low among mothers attending well baby clinic despite the information being available in the MCH booklets provided to the mothers during antenatal clinics.
authors: Department of Paediatric and Child Heath, Faculty of Health Sciences, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya. ekibaru@egerton.ac.ke.
authors: Elizabeth Gathoni
authors: EG
authors: Kibaru
authors: Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya.
authors: Amos Magembe
authors: AM
authors: Otara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002662:Child Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Danger signs; MCH booklet