• Medhanit W/Senbet, Wondwosen Molla, Ruth Tilahun, Yabibal Gebeyehu, Meiraf Daniel Meshesha, Jarsso Tadesse Hirbu, Habtamu Endashaw Hareru, Wagaye Alemu, Temesgen Muche, Aneleay Cherinet Eritero, Seid Shumye, Nebiyu Mengistu, Solomon Yimer, Derebe Madoro, Zerihun Figa, Dawit Getachew Assefa, Eden Daganchew Zeleke, Daniel Sisay, Aregahegn Wudneh, and Moges Tadesse.
• School of Public Health, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 Mar 1; 38 (3): 383-392.

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, perinatal mortality rate was 33 per 1000 pregnancies and 64.4% of this death was occurred within the first 7 days of neonatal life. Moreover, more than 2.1% of new born babies were died within their first seven days of life in Ethiopia. Majority of neonatal deaths are preventable by applying an effective and lifesaving interventions. However, little is known about newborn care practice at the community level.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was used. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used to get a total of 540 mothers who gave birth at home within the past six months from their kebeles in Ethiopia. Data was collected by using face-to-face interview with structured questionnaires. Then the data was coded, cleaned, and entered into Epidemiological data version 3.1 and exported to statistical package for social science version 23.0 for analyses. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify statistically significant associations between dependent and independent variables. The odds ratio at 95% confidence interval with P-Value 0.05% was computed.ResultsA total of 540 women were participated with a response rate of 98.3%. Only 208 (44%) of the women had good practice towards essential newborn care. Head of households [AOR (95%CI) 2.7417 (1.80-4.25)], type of birth attendant [AOR (95%CI) 3.962 (3.329-7.171)] and bad obstetrical history [AOR (95%CI) 3.151 (2.209-4.969)] were significantly associated with maternal newborn care practice.ConclusionLess than half of the mothers had good newborn care practice. In this study, head of household, type of birth attendant, and bad obstetrical history were significantly associated with maternal newborn care practice. Therefore, Ministry of Women and Woreda women and Child offices needs to promote the socioeconomic empowerment of women to increase the practice of essential newborn care practices.

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