Hospital based study to assess knowledge, attitude, practice and problems of postnatal mothers related to their newborn health care and breastfeeding

Abstract EN

Objective : the care of mothers and babies during the postnatal period should be treated with equal importance, because the knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers will affect the wellbeing of both the mother and child.

The aim of this study is to assess postnatal mother’s source of knowledge, their attitude, practice and problems that faced them in relation to different aspects of baby health care in hospital setting.

Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Kadhimia Teaching Hospital during the period from June to September 2006, a sample of 125 mothers were selected randomly (46 primi para and 79 multi para) using a well-structured questionnaire form, information related to different aspect of baby care were included in the form.

Results : although most of the mothers (84.8 % of primi para and 79.7 % of multi para) admitted that they visited the primary health care (PHC) center for antenatal care during their current pregnancy, their source of knowledge were mainly from their relatives or friends.

Methods of care and practice of mothers in both groups were inadequate in many aspects of baby care, with no significant difference between the two groups of mothers, majority of women prefer to contact doctor when they faced a problem relating their babies, again with no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions : further studies need to be done in other areas in Baghdad city and in other part of the country to identify the key behavior and interventions that should be integrated into the existing maternal and child health programs to improve newborn health and survival.

A situation analysis should provide the necessary information for developing a strategy, based on the newborn health situation, existing services and available resources, and understanding the priorities for introducing potential intervention.