Factors associated with early newborn care practices in Bangladesh: evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Abstract Aim Immediate care of newborns is essential to scale back the mortality rate. This study tries to search out several aspects of newborn care practices of newborn birth from BDHS 2017-18 data. Methods Initially, bivariate analysis is employed to look at the differentials' initial newborn care practices by several selected background variables. The study used a simple and multinomial logistic regression model to identify the important determinants of initial care practices. Besides determinates of the factor, the study also compares the results with the cross-sectional survey data of 2014 and 2011. Results The percentage of employing a clean delivery kit during delivery and skin-to-skin contact are 22.8 and 13.7 respectively in Bangladesh in 2017 which is lower than the previous report in 2014. The odds of clean delivery kits and skin-to-skin are higher for educated mothers (OR = 3.30 and OR = 1.74) and in the case of delayed bathing the odds of the Rangpur division (OR = 1.90) are more likely higher compared to the reference category. Besides, the odds of a mother's age above 25 and birth order 3+ are less likely to reference the category for newborn care practices. Conclusion Factors identified in early newborn care practices will not only help policy makers undertake a series of interventions for improved newborn health but also ensure good -quality health services.