Eneh A U, Ugwu R O
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.
Niger J Clin Pract. 2009 Jun;12(2):187-91.
Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ) is a common disorder worldwide. Early identification and proper management is needed to prevent the serious neurological complications associated with it.
To determine the knowledge of the women attending Children Outpatient (CHOP) and Immunization clinics on the causes, treatment and complications of neonatal jaundice.
Women who brought their children/wards to the immunization/children out patient clinics at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Port Harcourt were interviewed using structured questionaire.
There were 255 mothers who participated in the study. Of these 30 (11.8%) have never heard of neonatal jaundice while 225 (88.2%) have heard and only those who have heard were further analyzed. The age range was from 16 to 47 yrs (mean age 27.1 +/- 3.3 years). Median parity was 2. One hundred and twenty two (54.2%) women had tertiary education. One hundred and seventy four (77.3%) correctly defined neonatal jaundice, and in 114 (44.7%) source of information was from health talk in the clinic. Seventy five (33.3%), and 50 (22.2%) erroneously believed that eating too much groundnut in pregnancy and mosquito bite respectively were the main causes while 55 (24.4%) correctly answered that it is due to mismatch of mother and baby's blood. Only a few knew that use of dusting powder on baby's cord, prematurity, and storing baby's clothes in camphor were risk factors for NNJ. One hundred and fourteen (50.7%) and 60 (26.7%), wrongly believed that exposure to sunlight and use of glucose drinks respectively were the main forms of treatment and 50 (22.2%) knew brain damage as a possible complication
There is still misconception on the causes and risk factors and treatment of neonatal jaundice among our women. Also only a few women are reached by the health talk in the clinics. There is therefore urgent need for massive health enlightenment campaign.
新生儿黄疸（NNJ）是一种全球常见的病症。需要早期识别和妥善管理，以预防与之相关的严重神经并发症。
确定在儿童门诊（CHOP）和免疫诊所就诊的女性对新生儿黄疸的病因、治疗及并发症的了解情况。
使用结构化问卷对将孩子/受监护人带到哈科特港大学教学医院哈科特港免疫/儿童门诊诊所的女性进行访谈。
有255名母亲参与了该研究。其中30名（11.8%）从未听说过新生儿黄疸，而225名（88.2%）听说过，仅对听说过的进行进一步分析。年龄范围为16至47岁（平均年龄27.1±3.3岁）。中位产次为2次。122名（54.2%）女性接受过高等教育。174名（77.3%）正确定义了新生儿黄疸，114名（44.7%）的信息来源是诊所的健康讲座。75名（33.3%）和50名（22.2%）分别错误地认为孕期吃太多花生和蚊虫叮咬是主要病因，而55名（24.4%）正确回答是母婴血型不合。只有少数人知道在婴儿脐带使用爽身粉、早产以及将婴儿衣服存放在樟脑丸中是新生儿黄疸的危险因素。114名（50.7%）和60名（26.7%）分别错误地认为晒太阳和喝葡萄糖饮料是主要治疗方式，50名（22.2%）知道脑损伤是一种可能的并发症。
我们的女性对新生儿黄疸的病因、危险因素及治疗仍存在误解。而且诊所的健康讲座仅覆盖了少数女性。因此迫切需要开展大规模的健康宣传活动。
