Home-based neonatal care by Health Extension Worker in rural Sidama Zone southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundHome-based neonatal care is associated with a reduction in neonatal mortality in settings with poor access to health facility-based care. The first day of a child’s life is a day of unparalleled opportunity to spare lives and sets the level for a sound future. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and timing of home-based neonatal care by health extension workers (HEWs) in the rural Sidama Zone of southern Ethiopia.Subjects and methodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted, and a total of 2,040 mothers who had a live birth in the last 6 months were studied from 1 to 31 January 2017. Interviewer-administered data were collected using a standard questionnaire developed by the Saving Newborn Lives Program. A descriptive analysis and logistic regression analyses were done.ResultsIt was found that 252/2,040 (12.4%) mothers and their neonates were visited by the HEWs during the first month of birth. Out of all households who had a history of visits, 139 (55.2%) had a single visit. Of these, only 66/252 (26.2%) of the first visit were within the first 24 hours. Mothers who received postnatal home visit by the HEWs were at 1.35 times greater odds to have good postnatal practice compared to unvisited mothers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.35, 95% CI [1, 1.71]). Mothers who gave their last birth at home were 36% less likely to have good postnatal practice compared to those who gave birth in a health institution (AOR 0.64, 95% CI [0.53, 0.79]).ConclusionMajority of the neonates did not get the recommended number and frequency of home visits. Postnatal home visit by HEWs had a great role in mothers having good postnatal practice. Therefore, all stakeholders should give attention on strengthening supportive supervision, proper implementation of community-based maternal and neonatal care is very crucial.

Essential new-born care practices and associated factors among post natal mothers in Nekemte City, Western Ethiopia

“…A similar study conducted in Goba town, Ethiopia also revealed that counselling is a positive predictor of ENBC practices [30]. This may be because access to counselling services would enhance mothers' awareness and practice of essential new-born care [28].…”

“…Nepal (60%), Uganda (42%), Cameroon (70.3%), India (64%), the survey conducted in 4 regions of Ethiopia (25.3%), and the study done in East Gojjam (34.4%) [11,12,14,15,24,26,27]. The difference may be due to Ethiopia's health extension program which has improved women's antenatal and postnatal care utilizations [28]. However, the finding of the study was found to be lower than the study done in the Chitwan district (96.7%) and Dessie, Northern Ethiopia (80.8%) [16,23].…”

Postnatal home visits by health extension workers in rural areas of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design

“…In Ethiopia, since the implementation of the health extension program (HEP), few studies have published findings on the coverage of PNHVs by HEWs. In Southern Ethiopia, 12.4% of mothers and their neonates were visited by the HEWs during the first month of birth and the major factors associated with early PNHVs were HEWs visit home during pregnancy, skilled delivery, and having HEW's cell phone and no association were observed with maternal socio-demographic characteristics and early PNHVs [21].…”

Postnatal home visits by health extension workers in rural areas of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design

“…In Ethiopia, since the implementation of the health extension program (HEP), few studies have published findings on the coverage of PNHVs by HEWs. In Southern Ethiopia, 12.4% of mothers and their neonates were visited by the HEWs during the first month of birth and the major factors associated with early PNHVs were HEWs visit home during pregnancy, skilled delivery, and having HEW's cell phone and no association were observed with maternal socio-demographic characteristics and early PNHVs (21,22).…”