KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF POSTNATAL MOTHERS ON NEWBORN CARE IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF UDUPI DISTRICT

A descriptive correlational survey to assess knowledge and practice of postnatal mothers on newborn care was carried out among 30 mothers using valid, reliable, structured knowledge and practice questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. The findings of the study showed that most of the sample 24(80%) were in the age group 21-30 years, most of them 16(53.3%) were primipara, 15(50%) had normal vaginal delivery and 15 (50%) had LSCS. Majority of the sample 25 (83.3%) belonged to Hindu religion, most of them 19 (63.3%) belonged to joint family, most the samples 17 (56.7%) lived in a rural area, majority of the mothers 17 (56.7%) were housewives. Majority of the new-borns, 24 (80%) were above 37 weeks of gestation, most of the new born 21(70%) were below 6 days of age, majority of the new born 19(63.3%) were male, majority of newborn 16(53.3%) were above 3000 grams of birth weight. Majority 23 (76.7%) of mothers had good knowledge on new-born care. Most of 16 (53.33%) of mothers had excellent practice on newborn care. Relationship between knowledge and practice score of the mother was not statistically significant at 0.05 level (r=0.276, p=0.140). The education of the mothers (x2((df)) = 11.642, p=0.009) had significant association with the knowledge of the mother regarding new-born care. Keeping in mind the findings of the study it is recommended that an educational programme regarding newborn care can be organized to the antenatal and postnatal mothers