Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community health workers in Ba’quba City on the treatment of neonatal jaundice

Posted on by Muthanna Medical Journal

Research article

Volume 10, Issue 2,  2023.  Page 258-265    10.52113/1/2/2023-258-265

Authors
Hailah othman habeeb 1,Aseel Jasim Mohammed, Bushra Mahmood

Correspondence author: aseel@uodiyala.edu.iq
1 Diayla university college of medicine.
Received 24 August 2023; revised 29 November 2023; accepted 07 November 2023, available online 30 December 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Habeeb, et al. This is article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Abstract

Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is a leading cause of brain damage, physical and mental disability, and early death in many civilizations. Health workers need greater awareness. The research assessed primary care practitioners' knowledge of NNJ's description, causes, effective therapy, and consequences. The study was conducted at Diyala governorate's basic health institutions. The research ran from September 2017 through February 2018. Eight health clinics were randomly chosen among 98. After getting their agreement, community health workers were given self-administered questionnaires. Their identification wasn't necessary. Study excluded physicians. Ninety-two (92) of 100 health workers participated. Mean age (33.7yrs) and M:F ratio 2:4. Health workers' mean experience was (11.2 year). Only 25% of respondents could accurately define NNJ. 43.4 percent of NNJ test-takers pick the three right answers. In questioning Signs of severity " danger " in neonate with jaundice, 27.3% chose the five correct answers while 50% chose the three correct answers namely ABO incompatibly, Sepsis and Preterm labour in questioning what causes a NNJ, while 16% thought malarial infection and germs in breast milk or some insects are the cause of the NNJ. 68.4% choose phototherapy as an effective NNJ treatment. 46.9% of responders advised glucose water, 24.4% antibiotics. We conclude that primary health care practitioners in our area have knowledge gaps about newborn jaundice and its management and urge regular training workshops or seminars. This may lessen NNJ's influence on child health and well-being in underdeveloped nations.

Keywords: Knowledge, attitudes, practices, health workers, Ba'quba City, treatment, neonatal jaundice

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Habeeb HO, Mohammed AJ, Mahmood B. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community health workers in Ba'quba City on the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Muthanna Medical Journal. 2023; 10(2):258-265.