A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice on Newborn Care Among Postnatal Mothers at a Selected Hospital Golaghat District, Assam

Neonatal period is a very crucial period of life. All newborns require care in this period to minimize the risk of illness and maximize their growth and development. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge and practice on newborn care among postnatal mothers. A quantitative non-experimental approach with a descriptive research design was selected for the present study. The study was conducted among 50 postnatal mothers in maternity ward in VKNRL Hospital, Numaligarh, Golaghat, Assam. Data were collected by using self-structured questionnaire on newborn care. The study results revealed that majority i.e, 54% had moderate 26% had poor and 20% of the postnatal mothers had adequate knowledge regarding newborn care. Whereas, 54% of the postnatal mothers had moderate, 24% had adequate, and 22% had poor practice on newborn care. The mean value of knowledge on newborn care among postnatal mothers is 14.58 and SD is 2.12. The mean value of practice on newborn care among postnatal mothers is 7.38 and SD is 1.5. There was a significant association between knowledge on newborn care and selected demographic variables such as educational status, mode of delivery of postnatal mothers. There was a significant association between practice and educational status of the postnatal mothers. It can be concluded that participants had moderate knowledge and practice on newborn care.

Keywords: Newborn care, postnatal mothers, knowledge, practice.