Assessment of knowledge and practices on cord Care among postnatal mothers’ attending public health facilities in Morogoro municipality

Abstract

Background: The lives of newborns depend upon the mother’s knowledge of health care and practices about cord care because the cord stump is the major means of entry for infections after birth. Therefore clean cord care practices help to prevent infections and hence reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to assess knowledge and practices on cord care among postnatal mothers attending public health facilities in Morogoro municipal. 

Methods: A cross-sectional study design using a quantitative approach was employed and comprised of all postnatal mothers who attended the postnatal clinic during the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used with 251 respondents. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. Both descriptive and inferential analysis were done whereby logistic regression and chi-square test were used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables.

Results: Out of 251 postnatal mothers (95.2%) got information about postnatal check-up at the health facility. Also, 132(52.6%) had adequate knowledge and 47(4%) had inadequate knowledge. The majority (85.7%) stated that cord stump should be handled with a clean dressing/cover and 80.1% of them reported that cord stump should not be wet/soiled. Of all factors assessed only education level showed a significant relationship with the knowledge of cord care; the higher the education level, the higher the knowledge of cord care. Mothers who at least attended primary, secondary or higher education more often had adequate knowledge about cord care OR 3.19(1.06-9.57) p-value=0.04, 3.16(1.02-9.73) p-value=0.05 and 6.24(1.44-27.06) p-value=0.01 respectively as compared to mothers with no formal education. 

Conclusion: Mothers’ level of knowledge about cord care is moderately satisfactory. In general, this study identified that level of education was an independent predictor of a mother’s level of knowledge about cord care. Mentorship session for nurses and midwives about postnatal care services is needed and also mothers need competency-based training from nurses and midwives concerning cord care.