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Background: Neonatal danger has become a substantial problem in many developing countries like Ethiopia. More specifically, neonatal rates in Ethiopia are among the highest in the world. In this regard, health-seeking behavior of mothers for neonatal care highly relies on their knowledge about neonatal danger sign, and it has been hardly investigated. Therefore, this study was intended to determine the level of mother’s knowledge about neonatal danger signs and to identify factors associated with good mother’s knowledge. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2014. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 603 mothers. A structured, pre-tested, and interview-administered questionnaire comprehending 13 neonatal danger signs was employed to collect the data. Data were entered into EPI-Info 3.5.2 and analyzed by SPSS version 16. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify associated factors. Odds ratio with 95% CI was computed to assess the strength and significant level of the association. Results: All mothers expected to participate in the study were interviewed. The results of the study showed that mothers who had knowledge of three or more neonatal danger signs (good knowledge) were found to be 18.2% (95% CI 15.1, 21.3%). The odds of having good knowledge was positively associated with mother’s (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI 1.37, 8.52) and father’s (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI 1.23, 12.36) higher educational achievement. Similarly, the odds of having good knowledge about neonatal danger signs was higher among Antenatal care (AOR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.05, 4.95) and Postnatal care attendant mothers (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.22, 3.54). Furthermore, access to television was also associated with mothers’ good knowledge about neonatal danger signs (AOR = 3.49, 95% CI 1.30, 9.39). Conclusion: Maternal knowledge about neonatal danger signs was low. Therefore, intervention modalities that focus on increasing level of parental education, access to antenatal and postnatal care and PNC service, and advocating the use of television was pinpointed.
Gondar town administration is located 723 km away from North West of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. According to the 2007 Ethiopian census report, Gondar had a total population of 206,987 and 7,878 annual live births. The town was subdivided into 12 administrative areas, and the health coverage of the city reached 74.96% in 2013. The study was conducted from February to May 2014. The study employed community based cross-sectional design including all mothers who have been living in the town for the past six consecutive years and who gave birth 6 months prior to the survey. Mentally and physically incapable women’s to provide response during data collection period were excluded. The total sample of the study was determined by using single population proportion formula by assuming 5% level of significance, 5% margin error and taking 29% proportion of good maternal knowledge on neonatal danger signs. Considering cluster effect of two and 10% non-response rate, the final sample size obtained was 575. Cluster sampling was employed to select four administrative unites, and all eligible mothers in selected unites were interviewed. Because of the cluster effect, finally 603 mothers recruited in the selected cluster were interviewed. Pre-tested and interview administered questioner adopted from different literatures were employed to record mother’s knowledge about neonatal danger signs, socio-demographic, economic and obstetric related factors. Six trained first-degree health professionals conducted the data collection process. Danger signs are symptoms that complicate the lives of the neonate and happen during the first 28 days. The total number of correct spontaneous responses to 13 items with a minimum score of 0 and maximum of 13 was used to measure knowledge of women about neonatal danger signs. Accordingly, two categories were developed for neonatal danger sign. Spontaneous response is respondents naming of neonatal danger signs without giving option of the respected signs. Women who mentioned at least three danger signs of neonate were considered as had good knowledge about neonatal danger signs and women who did not mentioned at least three danger signs of neonate were considered as had poor knowledge about neonatal danger signs [14]. The completeness and consistency of the data were checked, cleaned and double entered to Epidemiological Information (EPI-INFO) software version 3.5.1 and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16. Frequencies, proportions and summary statistics were used to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables and presented by using tables and graphs. A bi variable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors, which were significant at p value of less than 0.2. Those were then entered into multiple logistic regression model to handle potential confounding variables and to identify independent factors those affected mothers’ knowledge about neonatal danger signs. Odds ratio with 95% CI was used to identify significant factors. Model fitness test was conducted with Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit test (Chi square = 10.337, p-value = 0.24). Ethical clearance was obtained from the research review ethical committee of the University of Gondar. Communication with the city and sub-city administrators was made through formal letter obtained from the University of Gondar. Having finished informing the purpose and objective of the study, the researchers obtained a written consent of the study participants with age greater than 18 years. Moreover, written consent was obtained from caretakers on behalf of those with age less than 18 years. Participants were informed that their participation was on voluntary base, and the information obtained from them was kept confidential.
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