Health Care Seeking Behavior for Neonatal Danger Sign and Associated Factors Among Mothers in Jigjiga city Administration, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia. (Preprint)

Abstract

Background: Neonatal mortality, accounting for an estimated 4 million deaths worldwide each year, constitutes 40% of under-5 mortalities and approximately 57% of infant mortality. Most neonatal deaths (99%) arise in low-income and middle-income countries, and approximately half occur at home. In the past two to three decades, neonatal mortality rates have shown a slow decline in developing countries whereas infant and under-5 mortality rates have declined significantly.

Objective: To assess the healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs and its associated factors among mothers in Jigjiga city administration, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was carried from April to May, 2020G.C. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used, with a sample size of 408mothers/caretakers to collect data. Data entering, coding, and clearing were performed using Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 23, bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted considering significance. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as a significant association.

Result in About 250(62.5%) of the mothers have no healthcare-seeking behavior while 150(37.5%) of the mothers have healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger sign 54(26%) of neonates manifested difficulty/fast breathing. having information about neonatal danger signs was 5 times more likely to seek health care for their sick neonate than those who did not have information about neonatal danger sign 5.21(AOR:5.21,95%CI:0.86,31.41)and being knowledgeable about complications of neonatal danger signs were 11 times more likely to seek neonatal medical care compared to mothers who did not know11.35(AOR:11.35,95%CI:2.31,55.61). Those mothers who believe neonate or child can be treated with traditional were 3 timeless likely to have healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger sign.3.61 (AOR: 3.61 95% CI: 1.19,10.95).

Conclusion: knowing neonatal danger signs and the source of information have a strong association with healthcare-seeking behavior, and seeking suitable and timely care-seeking for neonatal danger signs is positively related to children`s healthy life.