JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

Approximately 7% of all newborns died, despite their families living close to a health facility. A study adds to the evidence that most families in rural areas do not seek care for their sick newborns, even when they recognize signs of danger. Still, those who do seek care do not do so on time or from quailed care providers. In Ethiopia, a country where the neonatal mortality rate is high, raising the awareness of mothers on the danger signs of neonates and appropriate healthcare-seeking behavior is crucial to sustain the achievement.

Objective:

This study aims to assess the healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs and associated factors among mothers in Jigjiga city administration, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia, in 2021.

Methods:

The community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from April to May, 2021G.C. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used, with a sample size of 408 mothers/caretakers to collect data. Data entering, coding, and clearing were performed using Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 23, bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted considering significance. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as a significant association.

Results:

Result: About 250(62.5%) of the mothers have no healthcare-seeking behavior while 150(37.5%) of the mothers have healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs 54(26%) of neonates manifested difficulty/fast breathing. having information about neonatal danger signs were 5 times more likely to seek health care for their sick neonate than those who did not have information about neonatal danger signs 5.21(AOR:5.21,95%CI:0.86,31.41) and being knowledgeable about complications of neonatal danger sign were 11 times more likely to seek neonatal medical care compared to mothers who did not know11.35(AOR:11.35,95%CI:2.31,55.61). Those mothers who believe neonate or child can be treated with traditional were 3 times less likely to have healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs.3.61 (AOR: 3.61 95% CI: 1.19,10.95)

Conclusions:

Seeking suitable and timely care for neonatal danger signs is positively related to children`s healthy lives. The perception of caretakers about the severity of neonatal danger signs ultimately affects the decision to seek health care and influences the type of care they receive. Enhance our understanding of the factors that influence the healthcare-seeking behavior of the mother/caretakers in cases of neonatal danger signs. The caretakers, especially the mothers need to be educated about the importance of healthcare-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs knowing neonatal danger signs and the source of information have a strong association with healthcare-seeking behavior, Most of the respondents knew at least one danger sign of neonate mainly difficulty/fast breathing, lethargy/unconsciousness but other danger signs were not well recognized.