Abstract:

Background: Neonatal danger had become a substantial problem in many developing countries like Tanzania. More specifically, neonatal rates in Tanzania are among the highest in the world. In this regard, health-seeking behavior of mothers for neonatal care highly relies on their knowledge about neonatal danger sign, and it has been hardly investigated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of mother’s knowledge about neonatal danger signs and to identify factors associated with good mother’s knowledge.

Methodology: A cross sectional study design was conducted at Sengerema clinic and randomly selected mothers were selected for questionnaire. The data collected was coded and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.

Results: A total of 124(65.3%) of postpartum mothers have good knowledge about knowledge Danger Signs Only 73.45% of mothers whom their baby developed danger-sign sought medical care for their baby from health facility immediately. In this the level of postpartum mother’s knowledge on NDSs and care-seeking practice were low. Also, this study found out that the participants had 100% attendance to ANC, but the PNC attendance among these mothers decreased to 67.4%. This means that there was a decrease in interest for health seeking behaviors among the mothers in order to improve their babies’ health due to different reasons as some would go to traditional healers, some would buy over the counter drugs and give to their babies and others decided to just at home whether in or not in disregard to the neonatal signs.

Conclusion: Even though considerable improvement has been achieved over the past decades as a result of expanded coverage of maternal and child care services, still there are a significant number of mothers who have limited knowledge about neonatal danger signs. Therefore, interventional strategies that stress strengthening maternal education and PNC follow-up should be extended.
Abstract:

Background: Neonatal danger had become a substantial problem in many developing countries like Tanzania. More specifically, neonatal rates in Tanzania are among the highest in the world. In this regard, health-seeking behavior of mothers for neonatal care highly relies on their knowledge about neonatal danger sign, and it has been hardly investigated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of mother’s knowledge about neonatal danger signs and to identify factors associated with good mother’s knowledge.

Methodology: A cross sectional study design was conducted at Sengerema clinic and randomly selected mothers were selected for questionnaire. The data collected was coded and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.

Results: A total of 124(65.3%) of postpartum mothers have good knowledge about knowledge Danger Signs Only 73.45% of mothers whom their baby developed danger-sign sought medical care for their baby from health facility immediately. In this the level of postpartum mother’s knowledge on NDSs and care-seeking practice were low. Also, this study found out that the participants had 100% attendance to ANC, but the PNC attendance among these mothers decreased to 67.4%. This means that there was a decrease in interest for health seeking behaviors among the mothers in order to improve their babies’ health due to different reasons as some would go to traditional healers, some would buy over the counter drugs and give to their babies and others decided to just at home whether in or not in disregard to the neonatal signs.

Conclusion: Even though considerable improvement has been achieved over the past decades as a result of expanded coverage of maternal and child care services, still there are a significant number of mothers who have limited knowledge about neonatal danger signs. Therefore, interventional strategies that stress strengthening maternal education and PNC follow-up should be extended.