Structured Pre-discharge Education on Care of Neonates to Mothers of Neonates Discharged From the Kenyatta National Hospital Newborn Unit

Abstract

Background Maternal knowledge on evidence-based interventions in the New Born Unit is often not structured, leaving these children vulnerable to adverse outcomes upon discharge. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a health education checklist in improving maternal knowledge on evidence-based interventions in the care of neonates discharged from the New born Unit. Methods This was a quasi-experimental interventional study, where mothers were consecutively recruited and allocated to a control or an intervention group. Upon consent, knowledge on evidence-based interventions on the care of neonates was assessed at the point of discharge. Health Education was imparted through a checklist to the intervention group and a post-test carried out on both groups via phone call after 8 weeks. Data was entered using an online data collection tool (KOBO Collect) and analyzed via SPSS. The difference in gained knowledge between the two groups was compared using Students T-test. Ethical approval was sought from the KNH/University of Nairobi (UoN) Research and Ethics Board. Results This study included 52 mother-baby dyads in each arm. The One – way ANCOVA test showed a statistically significant difference in mean scores between the trained and control groups (Mean Difference = 9.3, p < 0.001) with more knowledge gained by the trained than the control group in overall scores, cord cord care & hygiene, warmth and danger signs. Maternal age and Level of Education were positively corelated with greater gain in knowledge post-intervention with P values of (p= 0.05) and (p < 0.01) respectively. 5 children overall were readmitted (4.8%). Conclusion A Structured Pre-discharge Checklist improves overall knowledge on care of neonates and in aspects of cord care, warmth and danger signs. Age and Education of mothers is positively correlated with greater gain in knowledge on care of neonates upon discharge.