Descriptive Study on Newborn Care

 

Mr. Vinod V. Bagilkar1, Dr. S. Anuchithra2

1Assistant Professor, P.D. Bharatesh College of Nursing, Halaga, Belgaum, Karnataka

2Vice-Principal, P.D. Bharatesh College of Nursing, Halaga, Belgaum, Karnataka.

*Corresponding Author Email: vinod85bgm@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

Neonatal care is highly cost effective because saving the life of a newborn baby is associated with survival and productivity for over 5 decades as same to intensive care of adults with cancer and the degenerative disorders which is associated with an average survival for 2-5years. The world bank has estimated that the burden of disease contributed by perinatal courses in India accounts for 25% of the global disability adjusted life years (DALYs) last to the society.(Current Status And Challenge Of Perinatal Services In India; 2004).

A descriptive study was conducted to assess the knowledge on newborn care among primi mother in the selected civil maternity hospital, Belgaum, Karnataka.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge on newborn care among primi mother and to associate the knowledge on newborn care of primi mother with selected demographic variables.

Method: Descriptive approach and non- experimental design was used in this study. The setting of the study was civil maternity hospital, Belgaum, Karnataka. The sampling technique used was convenient and purposive sampling. A sample size of 50 primi mother were selected for the study.

Major Findings: Majority of respondents (70%) were in the age group of 20-22 years, (14%) of mother were employed ,(56%) of mother belongs to middle income group (Rs3001-4000/-) , (90%) were educated ,(38%) were lived as joint family ,(82%) of respondents were from urban community majority of samples ,(82%) practiced from Hindu religious , only (6%) of mother has history of medical illness and (2%) of mother has surgical history and (66%) of sample delivered normally. The mean knowledge value on newborn care of primi mother was 67.2. This indicates that the mother who is primi have moderately adequate knowledge. Chi – square test revealed that there is a significant association between knowledge on newborn care and selected demographic variables such as education. But there is no significant association between other variables likes age, area of residence, employment status, economic status, religion and type of family.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Newborn babies constitute the foundation of a nation and no sensible government can afford to neglect their needs and rights. Healthy and sturdy babies are likely to evolve as physically and mentally strong adults with enhanced quality of human resource development. Neonatal deaths account for 64% of all infants’ deaths in India optimal perinatal care with improved survival of infant is essential for effective fertility control and stabilization of population dynamic.

 

Neonatal care is highly cost effective because saving the life of a newborn baby is associated with survival and productivity for over 5 decades as apposed to intensive care  of adults with cancer and the degenerative disorders which is associated with an average survival for 2-5years .The world bank has estimated that the burden of disease contributed by perinatal courses in India accounts for 25% of the global disability adjusted life years (DALYs) last to the society.(Current Status And Challenge Of Perinatal Services In India;2004)

 

BACKGROUND OF STUDY:

According to study done in 2000 previously in India there are 140 million children born each year in the world, 90% are in the third world. Although the chances of survival of these newborn has improved by 50% in last 20 years, the first few hours, days and months of their lives are still an race. From the time of birth, 20-30% of babies are under weight .That makes them vulnerable to infection and Disease. About 50% of total infant mortality occurs in the first month of life.

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

In India, 50-60% of all infants deaths occur within the first month of life. Of these, more than half may die during the first week of birth. This is because the newborn has to adapt itself rapidly and successfully to an alien external environment. The risk of death is the greatest during first week after birth due to poor knowledge in the mother on newborn care.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the knowledge about newborn care among the primi mothers at civil hospital in Belgaum Karnataka.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.       To assess the knowledge on newborn care among primi mother.

2.       To find out the association of knowledge on newborn care of primi mother with demographic variable

 

Operation Definition:

Newborn: In this study it refers to the babies aged from 0-28 days.

 

Knowledge on newborn care: In this study it refers to the awareness of the primi mother on the meaning, immediate care, vaccination, breast feeding, skin and umbilical care and newborn care.

 

Primi mother: In this study it refers to mother who has given birth to her first baby and whose age of baby is in between 0-28 days

 

Assumptions:

1.       Primi mother will possess some knowledge on newborn care.

2.       Primi mother are capable of doing needed care for newborn.

 

Delimitations:

The study is delimited to

1.       50 Primi mothers who are admitted in Civil hospital Belgaum

2.       Those who are having new born babies of age 0-28 days

3.       Those who  understand and know to read and write Marathi, Kannada and English and willing to participate

 

Review of Literature

Studies related to care of newborn in primi mother

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach and Design:

Descriptive approach and non-experimental design was used in this study to assess the knowledge on newborn care primi mothers in selected civil hospital at Belgaum, Karnataka.

 

Setting of the Study:

The study was conducted in the selected, civil maternity hospital   in Belgaum, Karnataka.

 

Variables:

Independent Variables: Age, employment status, economic status, education, type of family, area of residence, religion, past medical and surgical illness, mode of delivery.

 

Dependent Variables: Newborn care and knowledge of primi mother.

 

Population:

The target population of the study was postnatal mothers in selected civil maternity hospitals at Belgaum, Karnataka.

 

Sample Size:

Total enumerated sample of 50 primi mothers in selected civil maternity hospitals at Belgaum Karnataka.

 

Method of Sample Selection:

Convenient and purposive method of sample selection was used for the investigation.

 

Development and Description of Tool:

The data was collected by using the following tools:

Structured knowledge assessment questionnaire on newborn care.

 

Description:

Structured knowledge assessment questionnaire on newborn care

 

Section A: Comprised demographic data of primi mothers.

 

Section B: questionnaire to assess knowledge on newborn care, which comprised of 20 questions with multiple choices. The total score of questions is 20.The correct response will be given score1.

 

Major finding of the study:

Regarding their age, 35 (70%) primi mothers belong to the age group 20-22 years and only 15 (30%) belong the age group of 18-20years.(Fig.1). With regard to employment status, 43(86%) of primi mothers are unemployed and 7(14%) of them are employed.(Fig.2). Regarding their economic status 28(56%) of primi mothers monthly income is Rs 3001-4000/, 16(32%) earns about Rs 2001-3000/, and 6(12%) are lies in categories of above Rs 4001 income.(Fig.3). With regard to education 29(58%) had secondary education, 11(22%) had primary education, 5(10%) were collegiate and 5(10%) were uneducated (Fig.4). 28(56%) of primi mothers belong to nuclear type of family and 19(38%) are of joint family and 3(6%) are of extended family. (Fig.5).   With regard to area of residence 34(68%) of primi mothers belongs to rural area and 16(32%) are of urban area. (Fig.6). While considering their religion 42(84%) of primi mothers were Hindu, 7(14%) were Muslim, 1(2%) were jain. (Fig.7).  With regard to the past medical illness, 47(94%) of primi mother were not suffering from medical illness and 3(6%) were suffering from medical illness. (Fig.8). With regard to the past surgical illness, 49(98%) of primi mother were not suffering from surgical illness and 1(2%) were suffering from surgical illness. (Fig.9). While considering their mode of delivery 33(66%) were normal delivery, 17(34%) were caesarean delivery. (Fig.10)

 

Assessment of knowledge in primi mothers on newborn care.

Table 1:  Distribution of knowledge on newborn care in primi mothers.                                                              N = 50

Knowledge

Number

Percentage

Inadequate (1-49)

Moderately Adequate (50-74)

Adequate (>75)

1

34

15

2

68

30

 

Table 1 describes that 1(2%) were having inadequate knowledge, 34 (68%) had moderately adequate knowledge on newborn care.

 

Table 2:  Mean and standard deviation of knowledge on newborn care                                                               n = 50

Statistics

Knowledge Score

Mean

Standard deviation

67.5

10.11

 

The above table explained that the primi mothers scored a mean knowledge of 67.5 with a standard deviation of 10.11.

 

Association of Demographic Variables with Knowledge of Primi Mother on Newborn Care

The finding says that there is no association between newborn care and demographic variables such as age employment status, economic status type of family, area of residence, religion past medical and surgical illness and mode of delivery.

 

But there is significant association between knowledge and mother education.

 

CONCLUSION:

The primi mother had moderately adequate knowledge on newborn care. These findings revealed that if the primi mothers are given adequate and proper knowledge on newborn care. They may be able to take care of the newborn babies in any condition.

 

Implications

The investigator has drawn the following implications from the study which is of vital concern to the field of nursing service, nursing administration, nursing education and nursing research.

 

Nursing service:

The nurse should give adequate health education to the mother in  the community as well as hospital setup on meaning ,immediate care, vaccination, breast feeding, skin and umbilical cord care and newborn care ,so that mother will be able to manage the condition

 

The main focus should be on the education aspect for mother.

 

Nursing education:

Very often, the physicians leave the newborn babies and mother under the care of nurses(Midwifes). Therefore nurses must be equipped with knowledge and skill to make accurate decision regarding mother and newborn condition, so stress should be given in nursing curriculum to strengthen the knowledge and clinical experience of student nurses in adequate care of newborn.

 

Nursing administration:

The nursing administrators should focus on health promotion through home visits, mass health education programme, etc. health workers can be given training on newborn care, the nursing administrators should train the students and staffs in the handling the newborn babies while providing care . 

 

Nursing research:

Further research can be carried out on this aspect to assess the effectiveness of nursing staffs in handling newborn babies.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following studies can be undertaken to strengthen the nursing research.

1) The same study can be repeated in different regions of the state or nation so as to compare the results.

2) The same study can be repeated on a larger sample so as to generalize the results.

3) The short term training programme and its effectiveness can be analyzed through a pre and post test method.                     

 

REFERENCES:

1.        Adele Pillitteri (1995). Maternal Child Health Nursing 3rd Edition, Philadelphia.

2.        Dutta DC. (2004), Textbook of Obestetrics 6th edition, Calcutta: New Central book agency private limited.

3.        Jane B. and Ruth B. (1995). Pediatric Nursing 2nd Edition. USA Appleton and Lange publications.

4.        Ladewig, Londan and olds (1994). Essential of maternal Newborn Nursing 3rd edition, California: Addison Wesley nursing

5.        Mrs. Tambulwadkar RS. (1999). Pediatric Nursing 2nd edition Mumbai : Vora medical publication.

6.        Mudaliar and menon’s (2006) clinical obstetrics 10th edition Chennai : orient longman private limited.

7.        Myles (2005). Textbook for Midwies 14th edition, Philadelphia Churchill Livingstone publications.

8.        Omayal Achi College of Nursing (2004). Communicating Nursing Research 1st Edition Chennai.

9.        Piyush Gupta (2004) Essential pediatric Nursing 1st Edition. Delhi A.P. jain and company.

10.     Suraj Gupte (2004). The short textbook of pediatrics 10th edition, New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Private limited. 

 

 

 

Received on 05.06.2014          Modified on 28.06.2014

Accepted on 25.08.2014          © A&V Publication all right reserved

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 4(4): Oct.- Dec., 2014; Page 383-387