Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study
Abstract Introduction Neonatal illnesses can prove to be fatal if not identified early and treated. This suggests that death occasioned as result of neonatal illness could be prevented. However, it has been observed that most mothers report to the hospital late with their newborns in critical state,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03879-5 |
| _version_ | 1827974325554118656 |
|---|---|
| author | Joyce Fatima Kanton Alberta P. Gyepi-Garbrah Olivia Nyarko Mensah Doris Richardson Dzigbordi Kpikpitse Hannah Acquah Stephanie Ajinkpang Deborah Azalekor Mary Ani Amponsah Alhassan Abdul-Mumin |
| author_facet | Joyce Fatima Kanton Alberta P. Gyepi-Garbrah Olivia Nyarko Mensah Doris Richardson Dzigbordi Kpikpitse Hannah Acquah Stephanie Ajinkpang Deborah Azalekor Mary Ani Amponsah Alhassan Abdul-Mumin |
| author_sort | Joyce Fatima Kanton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Neonatal illnesses can prove to be fatal if not identified early and treated. This suggests that death occasioned as result of neonatal illness could be prevented. However, it has been observed that most mothers report to the hospital late with their newborns in critical state, making it difficult for professionals to salvage the problem often than not. This study sought to explore the knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to Tamale Teaching Hospital a tertiary hospital in northern Ghana. Methods An explorative descriptive qualitative design was used in this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select fifteen caregivers of neonates on admission at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using semi-structured interview guide. As part of data collection, audio recordings were used to audio tape interviews. All data collected were transcribed verbatim and subsequently analyzed manually using thematic content analysis. Results Thematic analysis in the study demonstrated that caregivers had basic knowledge, describing neonatal illness with danger signs such as lethargy, convulsion, fever, fast breathing, poor feeding, vomiting and diarrhea. The study further found that the predominant practice to care seeking by caregivers was home/traditional herbal remedies. It also indicated that inexperience caring for neonates, severity of illness and non-availability of finances were factors that informed caregivers choice of treatment of neonatal illness. Conclusion The study concludes that inexperience caring for neonate, severity of illness and non-availability of finances were factors that informed caregivers choice of treatment. There is a pressing need for health workers to strengthen the education of caregivers/mothers on neonatal danger signs and the need for prompt care seeking from skilled health care providers prior to discharge from the hospital. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:52:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eccab83d4af84755beb657f261b9f2e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:52:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-eccab83d4af84755beb657f261b9f2e42023-04-03T05:41:00ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312023-03-0123111010.1186/s12887-023-03879-5Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive studyJoyce Fatima Kanton0Alberta P. Gyepi-Garbrah1Olivia Nyarko Mensah2Doris Richardson3Dzigbordi Kpikpitse4Hannah Acquah5Stephanie Ajinkpang6Deborah Azalekor7Mary Ani Amponsah8Alhassan Abdul-Mumin9Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tamale Teaching HospitalGhana College of Nurses and MidwivesGhana College of Nurses and MidwivesGhana College of Nurses and MidwivesGhana College of Nurses and MidwivesGhana College of Nurses and MidwivesDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tamale Teaching HospitalDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tamale Teaching HospitalMaternal and Child Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of GhanaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tamale Teaching HospitalAbstract Introduction Neonatal illnesses can prove to be fatal if not identified early and treated. This suggests that death occasioned as result of neonatal illness could be prevented. However, it has been observed that most mothers report to the hospital late with their newborns in critical state, making it difficult for professionals to salvage the problem often than not. This study sought to explore the knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to Tamale Teaching Hospital a tertiary hospital in northern Ghana. Methods An explorative descriptive qualitative design was used in this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select fifteen caregivers of neonates on admission at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using semi-structured interview guide. As part of data collection, audio recordings were used to audio tape interviews. All data collected were transcribed verbatim and subsequently analyzed manually using thematic content analysis. Results Thematic analysis in the study demonstrated that caregivers had basic knowledge, describing neonatal illness with danger signs such as lethargy, convulsion, fever, fast breathing, poor feeding, vomiting and diarrhea. The study further found that the predominant practice to care seeking by caregivers was home/traditional herbal remedies. It also indicated that inexperience caring for neonates, severity of illness and non-availability of finances were factors that informed caregivers choice of treatment of neonatal illness. Conclusion The study concludes that inexperience caring for neonate, severity of illness and non-availability of finances were factors that informed caregivers choice of treatment. There is a pressing need for health workers to strengthen the education of caregivers/mothers on neonatal danger signs and the need for prompt care seeking from skilled health care providers prior to discharge from the hospital.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03879-5CaregiversDanger signsHealth seeking behaviorMotherNewborn illness |
| spellingShingle | Joyce Fatima Kanton Alberta P. Gyepi-Garbrah Olivia Nyarko Mensah Doris Richardson Dzigbordi Kpikpitse Hannah Acquah Stephanie Ajinkpang Deborah Azalekor Mary Ani Amponsah Alhassan Abdul-Mumin Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study BMC Pediatrics Caregivers Danger signs Health seeking behavior Mother Newborn illness |
| title | Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study |
| title_full | Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study |
| title_short | Knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre-admission to tamale teaching hospital, Ghana: an explorative descriptive study |
| title_sort | knowledge and practices of home caregivers on neonatal danger signs pre admission to tamale teaching hospital ghana an explorative descriptive study |
| topic | Caregivers Danger signs Health seeking behavior Mother Newborn illness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03879-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joycefatimakanton knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT albertapgyepigarbrah knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT olivianyarkomensah knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT dorisrichardson knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT dzigbordikpikpitse knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT hannahacquah knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT stephanieajinkpang knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT deborahazalekor knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT maryaniamponsah knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy AT alhassanabdulmumin knowledgeandpracticesofhomecaregiversonneonataldangersignspreadmissiontotamaleteachinghospitalghanaanexplorativedescriptivestudy |