ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a pressure on global health systems. The disruption of essential health services (EHS) has an impact on the health of mothers, neonate and children in developing countries. Therefore, the main aim of this study was assessing the availability of Maternal, Newborn care and Child health (MNCHS) services at primary health care unit during COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five regions of Ethiopia in 2021. Descriptive analyses were undertaken using STATA 16 software and the results presented using tables and different graphs. A continuity of EHS assessment tool adopted from WHO was used for data collection. Result: During COVID -19 pandemic, 30 (69.8%) of woreda health offices, 52 (56.5%) of health centers (HCs), 7 (44.4%) of hospitals, and 165 (48%) of health posts (HPs) had a defined list of EHS. In comparison with other EHS, family planning is the least available service in all regions. At HPs level care for sick children and antenatal care (ANC) were available at 59.1 and 58.82% respectively. Except immunization services at SNNP, all other maternal, newborn, and child health EHS were not available to all HPs at full scale. Conclusion: Immunization services were most available, while ANC and care for sick children were least available during COVID-19 at the HPs level. There was regional variation in MNCH EHS service availability at all levels.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Maternal Health , COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background: Neonatal care practices are different in different communities. Before any intervention planned to reduce mortality and mortality in community, understanding of local belief and practices is necessary. Some of the harmful practices need to be abandoned and good or harmless practices need to be appreciated. This study was conducted to understand the cultural beliefs and practices in newborn care among residents of Uttarakhand.Methods: This was descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out among 300 postnatal mothers admitted to the hospital. The data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses of the data was done using SSPS version 22.0.Results: 4% of the mothers believed colostrum to be unsuitable for the newborn. 71% mothers were practicing daily baby massage. 71.3% believed that hot and cold foods can harm their baby’s health. 57.3% practiced application of Kajal on baby’s face. 74.7% of mothers would keep Knife under pillow and 16.7% match box under baby’s cloth. 5.3% mother believed in practice of branding. 81% of mothers accept to practice of pouring oil in baby’s ear. 22.3% mothers believed in isolating mother baby together for 30-40 days.Conclusions: Certain practices are still prevalent like Branding, discarding colostrum, Kajal application, pouring oil in baby’s ear and very restricted dietary regime of mothers. These practices need to be stopped by educating mothers and relatives in postnatal wards.
ABSTRACT
Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a standard of care for preterm and low birth weight babies. To implement KMC in institutional care it was often practiced inside intensive care unit and also in separate ward. In present study authors have tried to evaluate effect of separate kangaroo mother care ward on implementation of kangaroo mother care in tertiary care hospital.Methods: Uncontrolled study before and after establishment of separate kangaroo mother care ward comparing kangaroo mother care in sick new-born care unit versus kangaroo mother care in separate ward.Results: In separate ward, as compared to kangaroo mother care practice in sick newborn care unit, mean (SD) duration of kangaroo mother care increased from 5.3 (1.6) to 11.4 (7.4) hours/day (95%CI 5.0-7.1, p value <0.0001). Mean (SD) weight gain increased from 10.7 (7.0) g/day to 13.7 (11.1) g/day (95% CI 1.0-4.8, p value <0.0024). Incidence of sepsis diminished from 14.0% to 28.9% (95% CI 6.4-23, p value <0.0006). Exclusive breast-feeding rate at discharge (42.3% vs. 57.3%) (95% CI 4.8- 24.9, p value <0.0041) and follow up (49.4% vs. 65.0%) (95% CI 1-29.4, p value <0.0378) increased. Mortality also decreased in this group of patients (8.6% vs.2.3%) (95% CI-1.6-11.4, p value <0.0082).Conclusions: Kangaroo mother care ward is better place than sick new born care unit for providing kangaroo mother care in tertiary care hospital.
ABSTRACT
Background: Educating mothers to create awareness about essential obstetric and neonatal care are the key steps in achieving the goals of reproductive and child health programme. In this study, we aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding essential new born care among the mothers. Methods: This community based cross sectional study was done in Kancheepuram district, using a sample size of 100 mothers arrived based on the expected number of pregnancies in the area. The participants were selected by simple random sampling and data collected regarding the knowledge on new-born care among the mothers, using a structured interview schedule. Results: The study result showed that mean age of mothers was 25 years and mean weight of babies was about 3 kg. Regarding the education status, 67% studied up to 10th standard and 18% studied up to plus two levels. Majority of them got information on new born care from health workers (44%) and family members (36%). The level of adequate knowledge regarding new-born care was present only in 15%, feeding practices in 39%, various components of immunization in 8%, growth and development in 42% and about new-born illness in 33% of the mothers. The knowledge regarding new born care was found to have a significant association with the educational status of the mothers. Conclusions: This study outcome shows the need for a better revamped awareness and education program coupled with effective health care delivery system to improve the level of knowledge among mothers on new born care, in achieving better health indicators as far as RCH services are concerned.