Prevalence and determinants of mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact in The Gambia: a secondary data analysis

Abstract

Background Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) between mother and the newborn brings many benefits including its potential to promote the survival of the newborn. Nevertheless, it is a practice that is underutilized in many resource-constrained settings including The Gambia where a high rate of maternal and child mortality has been reported. In this study, we examined the prevalence and determinants of mother and newborn SSC in The Gambia. Methods We used secondary data from The Gambia Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)—2018. Data from 9205 women between 15-49 years who gave birth within 5 years of the survey was extracted for the analysis. Percentages and chi-square test were used for analyses. The significant variables from chi-square test were included in the multivariable binary logistic regression model to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (with corresponding 95% CI) of the factors associated with mother and newborn SSC. Results The results of this study showed that the national prevalence of mother and newborn SSC was 35.7%. Across local government areas; Mansakonko (47.8%) and Kerewan (44.2%) had the highest prevalence, while Basse (28.5%) and Brikama (26.5%) had the least prevalence of mother and newborn SSC in The Gambia. Based on results from the logit model, normal weight (at least 2.5 kg) children were 1.37 times as likely to have mother and newborn SSC, compared with the low birthweight (< 2.5 kg) children (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.78). In addition, there was 38% increase in the odds of rural women who reported mother and newborn SSC, compared with urban women (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.79). Women who delivered at health facility were 3.35 times as likely to have mother and newborn SSC, compared with women who delivered at home (OR = 3.35; 95% CI: 2.37, 4.75). Furthermore, women who initiated antenatal care (ANC) after the first trimester had 21% reduction in the odds of mother and newborn SSC, compared with women who initiated ANC within the first trimester (OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.93). Conclusion The prevalence of mother and newborn SSC was low. In addition, geographical residence, birth weight, urban-rural residential status, place of delivery, and timing to ANC initiation were associated with mother and newborn SSC. There is a need to promote institutional based delivery using skilled birth attendance, promote early ANC initiation and healthy fetal growth.

Skin-to-Skin Care Practice and Its Associated Factors Among Postpartum Mothers in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study was conducted to assess skin-to-skin care practice and its associated factors among postnatal mothers who visit Gurage Zone public health centers; we found that 35.3% (95% CI; 31.3%-40.4%) of participants were practiced skinto-skin care to their newborn. The finding of this study was comparable with the studies conducted in Harar city, eastern Ethiopia 34.4%, 14 Gambia 35.7%, 15 and Brazil 37.5%. 17 The proportion of SSC practice in this study was higher than studies conducted in four regions of Ethiopia 25.8%, 18 Eastern India 15%, 7 and rural Ghana 10%.…”

“…This difference was due to the difference in the distribution of health facilities where the distribution of health facilities in the study setting is found in urban areas whereas, in the Gambia, the health facilities are more distributed and found in rural area. 15 Mothers who had normal birth weight newborns (≥ 2500gm) were 3 times more likely to practice skin-toskin care than those mothers who had low birth weight newborns. This finding was consistent with the studies conducted in Gambia and Brazil.…”

“…This finding was consistent with the studies conducted in Gambia and Brazil. 15,17 This is because a low birth weight baby has the probability of developing different neonatal complications such as neonatal sepsis, congenital anomalies, neonatal jaundice, and respiratory distress syndrome. Therefore, the newborn might separate from mothers to receive different medical treatments which in turn may reduce the mother's no time to practice skin-to-skin care.…”

“…1 In this study, skin-to-skin care practice was measured dichotomously as "Yes" (Practiced mother-newborn SSC) coded and "No" (did not practice mother-newborn SSC). 15 Immediate Skin-to-Skin Care Mothers who had initiated skin-to-skin care practice within 10 minutes after delivery of the newborn. 1 Early Skin-to-Skin Care Mothers who had initiated skin-to-skin care practice at any time after birth and continue up to the first 23 hours.…”

“We All Join Hands”: Perceptions of the Kangaroo Method Among Female Relatives of Newborns in The Gambia

“…Newborns were admitted to the study site from the EFSTH maternity unit (approximately 7,000 births per year) or from other hospitals or home with two thirds of admissions born outside EFSTH ( Okomo et al, 2015 ). At the time of this study in 2017, KMC was not practiced at EFSTH nor widely in The Gambia ( Ekholuenetale et al, 2020 ), although mothers were advised to provide skin-to-skin contact for 30 minutes immediately after feeding for clinically stable, small newborns. Small or sick newborns were cared for under radiant heaters or incubators, often with multiple occupancy, and with few nurses.…”