Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT-TH) Parklane, PMB 1030, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT-TH) Parklane, PMB 1030, Enugu State, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Apr 11;23(1):665. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15582-2.
Neonatal mortality continues to be a challenge in Nigeria, where low-quality care, caregivers' ignorance of signs of neonatal illnesses, and prevalent use of unorthodox alternatives to health care predominate. Misconceptions originating and propagating as traditional practices and concepts can be linked to adverse neonatal outcomes and increased neonatal mortality. This study explores the perceptions of causes and management of neonatal illness among caregivers in rural communities in Enugu state, Nigeria.
This was a cross-sectional qualitative study among female caregivers of children residing in rural communities in Enugu state. A total of six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted; three in each of the communities, using an FGD guide developed by the researchers. Using pre-determined themes, thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data.
The mean age of respondents was 37.2 ± 13.5 years. Neonatal illnesses were reportedly presented in two forms; mild and severe forms. The common causes of the mild illnesses reported were fever, jaundice, eye discharge, skin disorders, and depressed fontanelle. The severe ones were convulsion, breathlessness/difficulty or fast breathing, draining pus from the umbilicus, and failure-to-thrive. The caregivers' perceptions of causes and management of each illness varied. While some believed these illnesses could be managed with unorthodox treatments, others perceived the need to visit health centers for medical care.
Caregivers' perception on the causes and management of common neonatal illnesses in these communities is poor. Obvious gaps were identified in this study. There is a need to design appropriate interventions to dispel the myths and improve the knowledge of these caregivers on neonatal illnesses towards adopting good health-seeking behaviours.
在尼日利亚，新生儿死亡率仍然是一个挑战，那里存在护理质量低、护理人员对新生儿疾病迹象的无知以及普遍使用非正统的医疗替代方法等问题。源于传统实践和观念并传播开来的误解可能与不良新生儿结局和增加的新生儿死亡率有关。本研究探讨了尼日利亚埃努古州农村社区护理人员对新生儿疾病原因和治疗的看法。
这是一项在埃努古州农村社区居住的儿童女性护理人员中进行的横断面定性研究。共进行了六次焦点小组讨论（FGD）；每个社区各进行三次，使用研究人员制定的 FGD 指南。使用预先确定的主题，采用主题内容分析法对数据进行分析。
受访者的平均年龄为 37.2±13.5 岁。据报道，新生儿疾病表现为两种形式；轻度和重度。报告的轻度疾病的常见病因有发热、黄疸、眼分泌物、皮肤疾病和囟门凹陷。严重的有抽搐、呼吸困难/呼吸急促、脐部有脓液流出、发育不良。护理人员对每种疾病的病因和治疗的看法各不相同。一些人认为这些疾病可以用非正统的治疗方法治疗，而另一些人则认为需要去保健中心进行医疗护理。
这些社区的护理人员对常见新生儿疾病的病因和治疗的看法很差。本研究发现了明显的差距。需要设计适当的干预措施来消除这些护理人员对新生儿疾病的误解，提高他们的知识水平，以便他们采取良好的寻医行为。
