Level And Determinants of Knowledge on Neonatal Danger Signs and Health Seeking Practices Among Mothers of Infants Seen at a Tertiary Hospital in Freetown

Objective: Good knowledge of neonatal danger signs and appro­priate health seeking practices are strategic in improving neonatal health and survival. This study was done to assess knowledge of neonatal danger signs and health-seeking practices among mothers with infants visiting the outpatient clinic of Ola During Children’s Hospital. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 114 mothers with infants visiting the outpatient clinic of Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH), from June 1st to July 5th 2024. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Mothers who were able to mention at least 3 neonatal danger signs without prompt were considered to have good knowledge. Independent predictors of mothers’ knowledge were identified by multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: The results showed that 51 (44.7%) of the respondents had good knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Also, the health seeking practices of the mothers showed positive results as most of the mothers (72.6%) whose neonates developed danger signs, sought appropriate healthcare practices. Mother’s educational status (AOR = 5.370), occupation (AOR = 2.194) and higher parity (AOR = 3.512), were significant predictors of mother’s knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Conclusion: The study showed that maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs was low despite having a reasonable level of health-seeking practices for neonatal danger signs. Existing efforts at educating expectant mothers should be enhanced to improve knowledge about neonatal danger signs among expectant mothers.