Nurses’ knowledge, perceived challenges, and recommended solutions regarding premature infant care: A mixed method study in the referral and tertiary hospitals in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Background There has been an increase in preterm birth of about 2% in a span of 14 years (2000–2014) mainly from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Nursing care is very crucial and a lack of knowledge of health care providers is a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality. With the increasing number and investment of preterm infants towards attaining sustainable development goals (SDG) 3.2, nurses’ knowledge adequacy, challenges and solutions on their care needs to be affirmed. Methods A mixed method study was conducted between September 2020 to January 2021 in the neonatal units of four hospitals in Dar es Salaam. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess adequacy of knowledge set at 50% or more for the three main domains 1) Essential newborn Care 2) Infection prevention and management 3) Special care and monitoring. A phenomenological design using a structured interview guide focused on challenges and recommended solutions in acquiring on-the- job training on the care of preterm infants. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and qualitative data were thematically categorized. Results Out of 52 of nurses who participated and providing care to preterm infants; 48.1% came from a tertiary hospital, (84.6%) were females, only 28.8% aged more than 40 years and 23.1% had less than one year of experience. Overall, 55.8% of the nurses had never received on job training. Adequate knowledge among nurses was 94% on essential newborn care, 80.8% on infection prevention and management and 36.5% on special care and monitoring of preterm infants. Generally, immediate actions of helping baby breath (HBB) and cord care scored poorest. Components on special care and monitoring which had lowest scores included blood glucose monitoring, temperature monitoring and acceptable daily weight gain. Being more than 41 years old, a female nurse and working in the neonatal unit for at least 1–3 years were more likely to determine adequacy of knowledge on infection prevention and management. Lack of schedule and ways to identify those who require training were among the challenges mentioned in the focus group discussion. Conclusion The findings demonstrate an urgent need of instilling knowledge, skills and competences among nurses providing preterm care in our hospitals. Most nurses had not attended training on the care of premature infant. Special care and monitoring were most poorly performed. The recommended solutions included continuous medical education (CME) for all nurses through hospital and government commitment and encourage mentorship within and between hospitals. Nurses who are female, older than 41 years and those with 1 to 3 years of experience should be considered when planning for CME and mentorship program on infection prevention and management.