Essential Newborn Care and Associated Factors Among Obstetrical Care Providers in Awi Zone Health Facilities, Northwest Ethiopia: An Institutional-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Each year, millions of newborns die as a result of birth asphyxia, infections, and complications of preterm birth. This burden of death is disproportionately concentrated in low-income countries including Ethiopia. As a result, the care given immediately after birth is crucial for making a successful transition from intrauterine to extrauterine function and to reduce neonatal mortality.

Methods

Facility-based cross-sectional study design was carried out on a sample size of 208 obstetrical care providers. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The data were collected through Interview-administered questionnaires and observational checklists. The data were entered into Epi-info version 7 and exported to SPSS 23 for analysis.

Results

A total of 201 obstetric care providers participated in the study, making a response rate of (96.6%). This study revealed that 62.7% of obstetric care providers practiced essential newborn care properly. The factors significantly associated were received in-service training (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.35, 5.51), level of education (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.96), midwifery profession (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.35, 7.39), having good knowledge of essential newborn care (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.49), availability of drugs for essential newborn care (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.72), and availability of medical equipment to perform essential newborn care (AOR = 2, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.96).

Conclusion

The practice of essential newborn care was generally low. Having in-service training, midwifery profession, a good knowledge of essential newborn care, availability of drugs, level of education, and availability of medical equipment for essential newborn care were the determinant factors for essential newborn care practice. Improvement in essential newborn care practices could be attained through modifiable proven interventions like provision of in-service training, availed drugs, and medical equipment for essential newborn care.

Keywords:

• essential newborn care
• obstetric care providers
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to pass their gratitude to Bahir Dar University for financial support and approval of ethical clearance to carry out this research. We would like to extend our thanks to Awi zone health bureau and, respectively, the woredas and health offices for providing us with the necessary information and cooperative support for the accomplishment of our research work. Our gratitude also goes to supervisors and data collectors for their hard work in obtaining the necessary information. Our special thanks goes to study participants who generously shared their thoughts and feelings despite other tasks and commitments.

Abbreviations

AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; INC, immediate newborn care; ENC, essential newborn care; EDHS, Ethiopian demographic and health survey; OCP, obstetrical care provider; OR, odds ratio; SD, standard deviation; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

The data sets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author ([email protected]) on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical approval and clearance for the study were from the Institutional review board, College of Medicine and Health Science, of Bahir Dar University. A supporting letter was written by the College of Medicine and Health Science to the Awi zone health office, and then written permission was given to the selected woreda health bureaus of Awi zone. Health facility managers gave written permission to MCH (maternal and child health) department heads of the selected health facilities. After explaining the purpose and the possible benefit of the study, written permission was obtained from each respondent before taking the interview. Confidentiality was maintained in each level of the response in this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding Author

Correspondence goes to Asteray Ayenew.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests for this work.

Additional information

Funding

The source of funding to carry out this research was Bahir Dar University. The funding organization has no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript, this was the role of authors.