Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Postnatal Mothers Towards NewBorn Care at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital-Naguru, Kampala District.

Abstract

Background: In Uganda, infections in the newborn are still high and most common causes of the neonatal deaths and this is linked to the level of the mother’s knowledge, attitude and practices towards newborn care.

Objectives of the study: The aim of this research study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices towards newborn care among postnatal mothers at China Uganda Friendship Hospital – Naguru, Kampala district.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in China Uganda – Friendship Hospital Naguru. The study was carried out on postnatal mothers at China Uganda Friendship Hospital who were willing to participate in the study. Quantitative methods of data collection such as questionnaires were used in the study. A total of 154 respondents were interviewed. Descriptive Univariate analysis was used in SPSS and frequency table and graphs.

Presentation of results: Information was presented in tables, showing frequencies and percentages. Postnatal mother’s knowledge on dangers of the newborn was found to be high at 91.6% and on vitamin K at only 34%. The attitude of the postnatal mothers was high at 86.8%. Among the practices, most of the mothers were negative about immunization with some vaccines like polio vaccine, in that they reported that some vaccines cause diseases in children.

Conclusions: A lot of awareness is needed in Uganda through sensitization measures in order to uplift the knowledge of all postnatal mothers on the importance of vitamin K in prevention of bleeding in the newborn and counteract the misconceptions held by the mothers and community at large about some vaccines like polio vaccine that they cause disease.