Abstract:
Background: - The neonatal period refers to the period from birth to 28 days. Newborns are more likely to show subtle signs of illness, and such signs are called neonatal danger signs. Early recognition of such signs by families is crucial to reduce neonatal mortality by improving immediate care for sick newborns. Although fathers primarily decide on the care and financing of newborns, especially in a father‟s community, their knowledge about the danger signs in newborns remains poorly understood.
Objective: This study aimed to assess knowledge of neonatal danger signs and its associated factors among fathers who have child less than 6 months of age in Ambo Town, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2024
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July8 to Octobers 05 2023 among 408 fathers recruited through Sampling frame in Ambo Town. The data were collected by face-to-face interviewed administered pretested and structured questionnaires. Data were coded and entered in to Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS Version 26 for data analysis. Descriptive analysis, such as frequencies, percentage, and mean were done. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression with 95% confidence interval and odds ratio were used to identify factors associated with father‟s knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Statistical significance was declared at P-Value< 0.05.
Results: A total of 397 participants were included in the study, with a response rate of 97.3%. Of the participants, Only 209 (52.6%) [95% CI: 47.6, 57.6] of fathers had good knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Respondents higher education status (AOR = 4.67, 95% CI [1.185, 18.459]), number of children who have two or more AOR = 2.66, 95% CI [1.554, 4.580]), respondents whose wife had an instrumental vaginal delivery (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI [1.851, 9.683]), father accompany during wife Postnatal care visit (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI [1,267,4,587]), History of neonatal deaths (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI [1.048, 3.264]), and healthcare professionals as a source of information of NDS (AOR = 10.1, 95% CI [4,463,22,710]) were factors associated with fathers' knowledge of neonatal danger signs.
Conclusion and Recommendation:
The finding of this study showed fathers' knowledge of neonatal danger signs was low. However the odds of good fathers knowledge of neonatal danger signs was found to be significantly determined by respondents‟ level of education, two and more number of children, History of neonatal deaths, father attendance during wife Postnatal care visit, respondents whose wife had an instrumental vaginal delivery, and health professional as a source of information
