MOTHERS KNOWLEDGE ON THE CARE OF PREMATURED BABIES.

Abstract

Premature birth is the world's largest killer of new born babies causing more than one million deaths each year. To understand and asses the knowledge of mother who have given birth to premature babies on their care with regard to their feeding, infection prevention and provision of warmth that leads to their survival and reduce their readmission into the neonatal intensive unit. A structured questionnaire was the tool used for data collection. The study population and sample included mothers who have given birth to premature babies receiving care at the mother and baby unit of the Kumasi south hospital. A total of 50 mothers participated in the study. The first set of questionnaire requested demographic data, followed by questionnaire assessing mothers knowledge on the gestational age of the baby, means of feeding the premature babies, means of warmth provision and infection prevention to the premature baby. This is a descriptive study where a quantitative analysis was employed in conducting the study. Convenience sampling method was used. Data collection and analysis were done by using descriptive statistics and entry was done using excel and epi info. Charts, graphs and tables were used to summarize the data. From the current study, the level of education mothers had affected the care they provided for their premature babies. Most of the respondent mothers have had formal education so their response with regards to the feeding of the preterm baby and provision of warmth was encouraging. However, their knowledge with infection prevention was shallow since they did not consider other forms of infection prevention like environmental hygiene and care takers hygiene.