Original Article

Evaluation of the Knowledge and Attitude Changes of Mothers in Neonatal Care

10.4274/jpr.02408

  • Şahin Hamilçıkan
  • Yeliz Polat
  • Emrah Can
  • Meltem Erol
  • Özlem Bostan Gayret
  • Özgül Yiğit

Received Date: 06.12.2016 Accepted Date: 10.01.2017 J Pediatr Res 2017;4(2):46-52

Aim:

The aim was to determine the initial knowledge of mothers about neonatal care and evaluate their knowledge, care and attitude changes following individual education.

Materials and Methods:

Questionnaire forms designed on the subject of infant care and nutrition were given to mothers right after delivery. Before being discharged they were informed by the doctor and breastfeeding nurse about nutrition, infant care, and the most common mistakes. These forms were reapplied on the 15th and 30th days in neonatal polyclinic controls and the changes were evaluated. The correct information was repeated to the mothers who were detected to have misinformation and wrong attitudes in the evaluations in each form application period.

Results:

A total of 100 mothers and their infants were included in the study. No difference was determined in the nutrition rates of infants with food other than breast milk on the first day, 15th and 30th days. However, the breastfeeding rates obtained were higher on the 30th day than on the 15th, with an interval of two hours, and in general breastfeeding rates were low on the 15th and 30th days. The rates of bathing the infants with and without a bathtub net were determined to be high on the 15th and 30th days. The change in the infants’ sleeping positions, the place of sleep, and the presence of rails/guards around the crib on the 15th and 30th days were not found to be significant compared to the 1st day. There was a significant increase in the umbilical care rates on the 15th and 30th days. The increase in washing the clothes of the infants with soap powder, and the decrease in swaddling after the education were found to be significant. Furthermore, it was determined that the mothers received infant care information more frequently from the healthcare organisation on the 15th and 30th days compared to the 1st day. The highest correlation between the maternal education level and the post-education knowledge and attitude change was determined in uneducated and primary school graduate mothers (r2=0.35).

Conclusion:

The frequency and duration of the breastfeeding, infant umbilical care, swaddling, bathing, sensitivity to pinning jewellery on the infants, and whether or not mothers receive information about infant care from a healthcare organisation have changed positively after the education.

Keywords: Neonatal care, breast milk, maternal education

Introduction

When parents decide to have a baby, the first evaluation of the parents’ health should be performed by specialists in the pre-pregnancy period, and this observation and informing should be continued after the pregnancy. Health promotion is defined as activities that help an individual to improve resources that maintain and increase the well-being of the individual (1).

Various education and counselling programs are offered at different times to ensure that pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal period are spent healthfully in terms of the mother and the baby. In these programs, the late prenatal classes begin in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the expectant parents are trained on the subjects of delivery, infant care and infant nutrition (2).

In this study, we aimed to determine the levels of knowledge on newborn nutrition and care of the mothers whose infants were born through normal spontaneous vaginal delivery or cesarean section at Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital, and to evaluate the change in these knowledge levels with education.


Materials and Methods

The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study with mothers, and their infants born at Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital, Obstetric Unit between January 2016 and September 2016. Questionnaire forms designed on the subject of infant nutrition, infant care, and traditional practices were given to mothers right after delivery. The questionnaire forms included questions about the educational levels of the mothers, time of the first breastfeeding, nutrition type and frequency, form of nutrition other than breastfeeding, the first bathing time and place, umbilical care, infant sleeping patterns, attitudes towards traditional practices (jewellery, pacifier, putting infant to sleep with a blanket covering its face, swaddling); and information acquisition resources were addressed to the mothers and situation determination was done. The mothers’ information was evaluated by a doctor and breastfeeding nurse after the questionnaire and the mothers were informed about nutrition, infant care, and traditional practices. The questionnaire forms were repeated on the 15th and 30th days in the neonatal policlinic controls and the changes were evaluated. Mothers who were determined to have wrong information and attitudes in the evaluations were supplied with the correct forms after the application.

The ethical approval of the study was obtained from the hospital ethics committee (approval number: 2016-12). Written consent was obtained from the mothers before the study.

Statistical Analysis

Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) 2007 (Kaysville, Utah, USA) program was used for statistical analyses. Descriptive statistical variables were used for quantitative variables in the study data. The Friedman test was used for the evaluations and comparisons between the variables and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Spearman correlation test were used in paired evaluations. The level of p<0.05 was accepted to be significant.



Results

A total of 100 mothers and their infants were included in the study. 47% of the infants included in the study were born via cesarean section, and 53% through normal vaginal delivery. 52% of the cases were boys and 48% were girls. The educational levels of the mothers, the time of the first breastfeeding, the delivery method, and the gender of the infants are presented in Table I. No difference was determined in the nutrition rates of the infants with food other than breast milk on the first day, 15th and 30th days. However, the breastfeeding rates of the infants were higher on the 30th day than on the 15th day, with an interval of two hours, and in general, breastfeeding rates obtained on the 15th and 30th days were low.

The rates of bathing the infants with and without a bathtub net were determined to be high on the 15th and 30th days. The change in the sleeping positions of the infants, the place of sleep, and the presence of rails/guards around the crib on the 15th day and the 30th day was not found to be significant compared to the first day. The increase in the rates of sleeping in the dark after receiving the education was significant as well as the increase in the umbilical care rates on the 15th and 30th days in comparison to the first day. The results regarding the form of nutrition other than breastfeeding, the first bath, sleeping position, place and environment of sleep and umbilical care of the infants are presented in Table II.  

No significant change was determined on the 15th and 30th days compared to the first day in the diaper changing tools for infants, pacifier use and its reasons, and in the evaluation of covering the face while sleeping and the reasons for covering the face. After the education, the increase in washing the clothes of the infant with soap powder, and the decrease in swaddling were found to be significant. No change was determined in the rates of pinning jewellery to the infants’ clothes after the education. Furthermore, a significant increase was determined in the rates of mothers receiving infant care information from the healthcare organisation on the 15th and 30th days compared to the first day (Table III).

The highest correlation between maternal educational levels and post-education knowledge, and attitude and behaviour change was seen in uneducated and primary school graduate mothers (r2=0.35).


Discussion

A mother’s maternal role, acceptance of her baby and acquisition of the necessary knowledge and care skills as of the pre-pregnancy period, during pregnancy and after delivery, and performing the care of the infant with proper practices are very important for neonatal and maternal health. While emphasising the importance of education and information, the evaluation of this especially during the postpartum period, and the improvement of the knowledge and attitude by providing the necessary feedback should be one of the primary duties of neonatal health centres (3-5).

The level of education can create a number of differences, especially in reaching the information and in the process of using it. According to the Turkey Demographic and Health Survey 2013 (TDHS-2013), the mothers’ education rates were reported as follows: 11.8% of mothers were uneducated, 32.3% were primary school graduates, 25% secondary school graduates, and 30.9% were high school and higher education graduates (6). In our study, the ratio of uneducated mothers was 17%, primary school graduates 27%, secondary school graduates 36%, and high school and higher education graduates was 20%. These ratios seem to be consistent with the averages in our country. Our study revealed that mostly primary school graduates and uneducated mothers benefited from the education provided to them. These results suggest that mothers have little experience in infant care, mothers with low educational levels are more sensitive to the education provided, and they can develop their attitudes and behaviors in a positive way rapidly. As the educational level increases, individual information acquisition increases, and new information and practices cannot be accepted readily.

All mothers need information about infant care, but especially those who are going through their first pregnancies have been determined to have more difficulties in infant care and need information on various topics regarding the care of babies (7). This lack of information can be valid both for the mother’s self-care and her infant (8). It is reported that in the postpartum period, mothers often receive information from their friends and relatives, and infant nutrition takes the first place among maternal concerns (8,9).

Breastfeeding is a significant contributor in terms of the cost for mother and infant, health promoter and disease preventer (9). The UNICEF and World Health Organization emphasise the vital importance of breast milk by stating that breastfeeding the infant within the first hour after birth prevents 22% of neonatal deaths, and within the first day prevents 16% (6). In our study, it was determined that mothers were willing to breastfeed their infants in the first days but there was generally a decrease in the rates of feeding only with breast milk in the following days despite the provided education and that mothers fed their infants with food other than breast milk. The first feeding time and intake of colostrum by the infant are very important and therefore it is recommended that the infant is given breast milk within the first 30 minutes, especially in the case of vaginal delivery. According to the TDHS-2013 data, 50% of the infants are breastfed within the first hour after birth. In our study, the ratio of starting breastfeeding is 30% in the first 30 minutes and 40% in the first hour. These data are generally above the country average. This difference can be explained by the fact that our hospital is a baby-friendly hospital and the personnel receive training on encouraging mothers to breastfeed.

It has been observed that mothers apply wrong practices, and neonates are deprived of breast milk in cases when no education is provided on subjects such as the benefits of breast milk, and breastfeeding technique before delivery, and mothers are not encouraged to breastfeed after delivery (10). In the TDHS-2013 data, 27% of infants were not breastfed in the first 24 hours after birth (6). In our study, this rate was determined as 5%.

Infants can be bathed two or three times a week. The water temperature can be checked by inserting the elbow into the water. The infant should be held from his chest and washed face down. Also, the infant can be washed on a bathtub net vertically in the bath (11). In our study, the accuracy of washing habits in the evaluations on the 15th and 30th days following the first interview with family members show that the education has been successful.

The infant should be laid down in a crib or a cot on a flat surface. The room temperature should be kept between 21 and 24 0C. There should be no pillow and the bed sheet should be stretched (11). In our study, it was found that the mothers put their infants to sleep while breastfeeding, and in a crib with rails, and in the dark. These results suggested that infants slept in a proper environment and that the mothers’ consciousness of putting infants to sleep in the dark increased after the training.

Infection can be prevented by keeping the umbilical cord clean and dry, without applying anything, and this can help the umbilicus to fall off early (11,12). Furthermore, diapers should be fastened below the umbilical cord so that it will not be in contact with urine and faeces. It was determined that in the conditions of our country, umbilical care with only sterile gauze is sufficient in healthy neonates (13). In our study, after the first interview with the mothers, dry care was recommended for umbilical care, and there was a positive change after the training.

Due to the sensitivity of the neonatal skin, irritation or rash may occur as a result of contact with faeces and urine for a long time. To prevent this, it is important to wipe off, or wash and dry the infant every time he wets his diaper. A baby girl’s bottom must be wiped from front to back in order to prevent infections because of the shortness of the urethra in baby girls (14). In the study, it was determined that nearly all of the mothers obtained the correct information about neonatal bottom care after the education. This issue is very important for protection against future urinary tract infections and diaper dermatitis.

It is also important that baby clothes have cotton content, and some issues should be taken into consideration when washing clothes. It is known that soap powder is less allergenic than detergents, and this is important in terms of atopic dermatitis (15). In our study, it was determined that the mothers washed the baby clothes mainly with soap powder and that these tendencies increased even more on the 15th and 30th days.

Negative results have been reported on the use of a pacifier in the studies conducted. According to these, infants are reported to have decreased sucking durations due to breast confusion created after using the pacifier (16). The rate of pacifier use was 55% in our study, and despite the education provided, this rate did not change and the mothers continued to use pacifiers to prevent their babies from crying.

Swaddling still continues as a tradition in some regions of our country. However, it has been reported that swaddling an infant may be associated with congenital hip dysplasia (11). In a study conducted, 64% of the women said that they swaddled their infants 30 minutes after delivery (17). In our study, while 39% of the mothers said that they swaddled their infants on the first day, this ratio regressed to 16% on the 15th day and to 11% on the 30th day, with the education provided.

The rate of mothers pinning evil eye pendants with a safety pin to their infants’ clothes to protect them from the evil eye is 25% in our country (18). The rate of this cultural practice was found to be around 4% in our study.

It is known that mothers adopt various methods to put their infants to sleep. One of the traditional practices is covering the face of the infant with a cheesecloth (19). Our study showed that mothers cover the face of their infants for various reasons such as putting them to sleep, protecting from dust. However, in the studies conducted, it has been reported that the infant’s sleeping with his face covered is associated with sudden infant death syndrome (20,21). In our study, it was determined that this behaviour did not change despite the maternal education provided.

In a study covering eight provinces in our country, it was found out that 54.8% of the women acquired information about self-care and infant care from the elder members of the family, and only 16% of the women received help from healthcare personnel. This shows that women in our country cannot sufficiently benefit from health services in infant health in the postpartum period (22). In our study, while mothers acquired infant care information from the elders in the family by 92% on the first day, on the 30th day, with the education provided, this rate turned into receiving information from healthcare institutions by 62%.

Study Limitations

There were some limitations of the study. There was limited number of mothers, the results should be confirmed with a higher number of mothers and neonates.


Conclusion

This study has shown that the frequency and duration of the breastfeeding of the neonates, infant umbilical care, swaddling, bathing of the infants, sensitivity to pinning jewellery on the infants’ clothes, and the mothers’ receiving information about infant care from a healthcare organisation have changed positively after the education.

Ethics

Ethics Committee Approval: The study was approved by the Bağcılar Training Research Hospital Local Ethics Committee (Approval number: 2016-12).

Informed Consent: Consent form was filled out by all participants.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Authorship Contributions

Surgical and Medical Practices: Ş.H., Y.P., Concept: Ş.H., Y.P., Design: Ş.H., E.C., Data Collection or Processing: Ş.H., E.C., M.E., Analysis or Interpretation: Ş.H., M.E., Ö.Y., Literature Search: Ş.H., Y.P., Ö.B.G., Ö.Y., Writing: Ş.H., E.C.

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.


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