Counselling on newborn danger signs for women in Bahirdar City, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background/Aims The prevalences of good knowledge and health-seeking practice for newborn danger signs are generally low in Asia and sub-Saharan African countries. There is limited information available about the effect of maternal and child health service use on this issue among mothers in Bahirdar. This study's aim was to assess the effect of service use on knowledge and health-seeking practice related to newborn danger signs among women with infants in Bahirdar. Methods This community-based cross-sectional study involved 392 women with infants aged less than 6 months, who used maternal and child health services in Bahirdar between 10 September and 10 October 2020. Bivariable and multivariable regression were used to identify service use factors associated with health-seeking behaviour and knowledge related to newborn danger signs. Results Most of the participants recognised that frequent vomiting (81.1%), high fever (73.0%) and convulsion (69.9%) were neonatal danger signs. Postnatal care counselling was strongly associated with health-seeking practice (adjusted odds ratio=1.9, P<0.001). Antenatal care counselling was strongly associated with knowledge of newborn danger signs (adjusted odds ratio=1.57, P<0.001). Conclusions The prevalence of maternal knowledge of newborn danger signs was lower compared to the literature. Similarly, the prevalence of health-seeking practice among mothers with an infant with a newborn danger sign was low. Interventions to improve the quality of antenatal and postnatal counselling are recommended.