Awareness of newborn danger signs among mothers of under-9 months old children at Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Abstract Purpose: This study aims to assess awareness of mothers of under - 9 months old child on newborn danger signs and the associated factors. Methods: An Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized hospital from November 2021 to January; 2022 on 249 mothers. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to observe the effects of independent variables on the outcome variable. Result: Out of the 249 participants, only 114 (45.78%) were found to have good knowledge about neonatal danger signs. Mother’s aged 35-49 (AOR =4.69, 95% CI 1.19- 31.85), ability to read and write (AOR =22.19, 95% CI 2.42-202.86) having primary education (AOR= 10.75, 95% CI 1.24- 92.61), being merchant (AOR=3.85, 95% CI 1.12-13.17), parity of 2-4 (AOR =3.53, 95% CI 1.01- 12.32) and >4 (AOR= 24.61, 95% CI 1.87- 322.79) and having information on neonatal danger signs (AOR=3.23, 95% CI 1.57-6.67) were found to be significantly associated with good maternal knowledge of NDS. Conclusion for practice: The awareness of mothers of under 9-month-old children attending pediatric immunization unit at Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital on neonatal danger signs is low. Increased maternal age, having formal education, increased parity, and getting information on neonatal danger signs during antenatal care were found to increase awareness. Educating women and providing adequate information on neonatal danger signs during antenatal care (ANC) and post-partum periods can increase their knowledge thereby decreasing neonatal mortality.