Thermal Care Practice for Newborns and its Associated Factors in Mekelle Hospital and Ayder Referral Hospital Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia, December 2016

Abstract

About 3,100 newborns die within 24 h of birth each day. Ninety percent of these babies could be saved if warmth is provided promptly besides breastfeeding. Seventy percent of these deaths could be prevented with simple low-cost interventions, coupled with educating mothers and health workers to facilitate widespread implementation of essential newborn care practices. Studies on thermal care practice in health facilities witnessed by mothers are missing. This study was aimed to assess thermal care for newborns and its associated factors in Mekelle hospital and Ayder referral hospital Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia during 2016.

The objective of the present study was to assess thermal care for newborns and its associated factors in Mekelle hospital and Ayder referral hospital Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia during 2016 GC.

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in sample size of 354 newborns delivered in Mekelle hospital and Ayder referral hospital Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia within the data collection period. Data were collected by face-to-face interview from mothers of the newborns using questionnaire translated into local language Tigrigna and the neonates’ related information extracted from mothers’ cards. The study participant was selected by systemic random sampling method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

During immediate postdelivery, respondents reported their observations that delivery room windows were closed (70.3%), skin-to-skin contact (STSC) (89%), baby dried (93.2%) and immediate initiation of breastfeeding in less than one hour (67.2%). Mothers who stated that they were counseled to delay baby bathing for 24 h were 11.3%, for proper baby clothing were 6.8% and 7.3% of them told that mother and baby should be together. According to the median, 60.7% of the level of thermal care practice was suboptimal (median <=6). Using multivariate logistic regression gestational age of the newborn and the status of health provider who attend the delivery had statically strong relationship.

Above half of the thermal care practice was suboptimal. In addition to this, nearly 40% of the mothers were feeling cold during delivery and there was low level of counseling to delay baby bathing for 24 h.

Keywords: Thermal care, essential newborn care, delayed bathing, skin-to-skin contact (STSC), immediate breastfeeding

Cite this Article

Merhawi Berhane, Abera Haftu, Gedamu Abera et al. Thermal Care Practice for Newborns and its Associated Factors in Mekelle Hospital and Ayder Referral Hospital Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia, December 2016. Research & Reviews: Journal of Medical Science and Technology. 2017; 6(1): 39–46p.