Evaluation of knowledge and perception of newborn jaundice among parturient mothers in a secondary health care centre in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Authors

  • Matthias Mariere Okposio Mariere Memorial Central Hospital Ughelli, Delta State
  • Elisabeth Oluwadamilola Adebanjo Mariere Memorial Central Hospital Ughelli, Delta State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i3.16521

Keywords:

newborn jaundice, parturient mothers, Niger Delta

Abstract

Background: Newborn jaundice has remained one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed that delays in detection and/or inappropriate treatment may largely be responsible for this. Given that most mothers are now discharged home 24 hours after a normal delivery, the responsibility to detect jaundice in the new-born and take appropriate decision now rest with the mothers. This study therefore sought to evaluate the knowledge and perception of newborn jaundice among parturient mothers.

Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 255 parturient mothers at the lying-in ward of Mariere Memorial Central Hospital. A structured, pre-tested, interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from the mothers. SPSS version 16 was employed in the analysis of the data.

Results: Of the 255 parturient mothers interviewed, only 156 (61.2%) affirmed their awareness of newborn jaundice and only these mothers were further analysed. Their mean age was 30.2±5.4 and a median parity of 2. Thirty-seven (23.7%) of the mothers had tertiary education and just about half (50.6%) of the mothers knew that newborn jaundice presents with yellowish discoloration of the body and sclera. Three (1.9%) of the mothers knew that haemolysis is an underlying cause of jaundice and four (2.6%) mothers each correctly mentioned phototherapy and exchange blood transfusion as treatment modalities. Health talk given at the antenatal clinic was the source of information by 81 (51.9%) of the mothers.

Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge of risk factors/causes, treatment and complication of newborn jaundice by mothers is unsatisfactory.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i3.16521

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(3) 2014 p.292-297

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Author Biographies

Matthias Mariere Okposio, Mariere Memorial Central Hospital Ughelli, Delta State

Consultant Paediatrician, Department of Paediatrics

Elisabeth Oluwadamilola Adebanjo, Mariere Memorial Central Hospital Ughelli, Delta State

House Officer, Department of Paediatrics

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Published

2014-06-16

How to Cite

Okposio, M. M., & Adebanjo, E. O. (2014). Evaluation of knowledge and perception of newborn jaundice among parturient mothers in a secondary health care centre in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 13(3), 292–297. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i3.16521

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2014)

Section

Original Articles

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