Predictors of mothers’ home cord care, breastfeeding, and thermoregulation practices for newborns in a South-Eastern State, Nigeria

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INTRODUCTION: Suboptimal maternal practices in home cord care, breastfeeding, and thermoregulation for newborns pose significant public health concerns, with far-reaching implications for neonatal health. Understanding the determinants influencing these maternal practices is crucial for developing effective interventions. AIM: This study aimed to identify predictors of mothers' home cord care, breastfeeding, and thermoregulation practices for newborns in a southeastern state in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 365 postpartum mothers randomly selected from sampled health facilities in Ihiala Local Government Area was done. Consenting mothers were followed up to their homes. A self-structured, validated, interviewer-administered questionnaire with a reliability score of 0.87 was used for data collection. Appropriate umbilical cord care, breastfeeding, and thermoregulation practices of mothers were evaluated by rating their responses: 1 for YES and 0 for NO. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Data were summarized in tables and charts. Associations between variables were tested using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The majority (83.3%) of mothers practiced appropriate thermoregulation for their newborns, while only 23.8% and 41.3% practiced exclusive breastfeeding and proper cord care, respectively. The most common reasons given for the poor practice of essential newborn care (ENBC) were ignorance and the influence of family and friends. Predictors of good ENBC practices among the variables tested included place of delivery and educational status of mothers. Place of delivery significantly influenced umbilical cord care, with mothers who delivered in primary health centers showing the lowest odds of practicing proper cord care (AOR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28-0.89; p = 0.018). Similarly, educational status significantly influenced mothers' thermoregulation practices, with mothers who had only primary education exhibiting the least odd to practicing good thermoregulation (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.09-0.97; p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The study noted sub-optimal ENBC among postnatal mothers specifically: umbilical cord care, practice of exclusive breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. The findings underscore the need for targeted, culturally sensitive interventions in Anambra State, Nigeria, particularly focusing on umbilical cord management and breastfeeding.

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