KNOWLEDGE OF NEONATAL DANGER SIGNS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG FATHERS AND MOTHERS WHO GAVE BIRTH IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS IN HAWASSA CITY ETHIOPIA 2023

Abstract

Introduction Preventable neonatal mortality and morbidity remain challenging in many sub Saharan African countries including Ethiopia. The majorities of neonatal death were due to avoidable causes and occurred at home. In a developing country like Ethiopia, since husbands are considered decision-makers when it comes to healthcare-seeking in the family, care-seeking behavior toward their neonates highly relies on their knowledge about neonatal danger signs. Lack of knowledge about neonatal danger signs contributes to delays in seeking help which in turn increases neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge of neonatal danger signs and associated factors among fathers and mothers who gave birth in the last six months in Hawassa city. Method: A community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 633 couples in selected kebeles of Hawassa city from February 6 to 20. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using semi structured questionnaire. The data was entered into EPI data version 4.2 and exported to SPSS for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 to determine significant factors associated with knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Result: The result of this study showed that mothers and fathers who have good knowledge of neonatal danger sign were found to be 56 %( 95%CI 52-60) and 40.1% (95% CI 36-44) respectively. The odds of having good knowledge among fathers were positively associated with accompanying spouse during ANC follow-up (AOR=2.674, 95% CI 1.532to 4.66). Having three or more children (AOR=2.155, 95% CI 1.287to 3.61) history of neonatal illness (AOR=3.431, 95% CI 1.715 to 6.862). And the odds of having good knowledge among mothers were having a history of neonatal death, (AOR=2.371, 95%CI 1.145-4.911), having three or more children. (AOR=1.49, 95%CI 1.061-2.120) and being counseled by health care professionals at postnatal (AOR=1.482, 95%CI 1.016-2.161) Conclusion and recommendations in this study, Mothers’ and fathers’ knowledge about neonatal danger signs was found to be low. Therefore, an intervention modality that focuses on reducing the knowledge gap through health education was pinpointed