TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................. i
COPYRIGHT.............................................................................................................................. ii
APPROVAL OF SUBMISSION ...............................................................................................iii
DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... iv
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................... vii
LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................... x
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... xi
LIST OF ACRONYMS............................................................................................................. xii
DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS ...........................................................................................xiii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problem statement................................................................................................................. 3
1.3 Study purpose........................................................................................................................ 3
1.4 Specific objectives................................................................................................................. 4
1.5 Research questions................................................................................................................ 4
1.6 Justification ........................................................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................ 5
2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Knowledge of postnatal mothers about prevention of neonatal sepsis ................................. 6
2.3 Practices of mother on care of newborn................................................................................ 9
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY............................................................................. 12
3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 12
viii
3.2 Study Design ....................................................................................................................... 12
3.3 Study setting........................................................................................................................ 12
3.4 Study Population ................................................................................................................. 12
3.4.1 Sample size determination ............................................................................................... 13
3.4.2 Sampling procedure.......................................................................................................... 13
3.4.3 Selection criteria............................................................................................................... 13
3.5 Definition of variables......................................................................................................... 14
3.6 Research Instruments .......................................................................................................... 14
3.7 Data collection procedure.................................................................................................... 14
3.7.1Data management.............................................................................................................. 15
3.7.2 Data analysis and presentation ......................................................................................... 15
3.8 Quality control..................................................................................................................... 15
3.9 Ethical consideration........................................................................................................... 16
3.10 Study limitations ............................................................................................................... 17
3.11 Dissemination of results.................................................................................................... 17
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS .............................................................................................. 18
4.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 18
4.1 Background information of the respondents....................................................................... 18
4.2 Level of knowledge of postnatal mothers at KIU-TH about prevention of neonatal sepsis20
4.3 The mother’s practice used during care of new born at KIU-TH ....................................... 23
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.......... 28
5.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 28
5.1 Background information ..................................................................................................... 28
5.2 Knowledge of postnatal mothers about prevention of neonatal sepsis ............................... 29
5.3 Practices used during care of newborn at KIU-TH............................................................. 30
5. 4 Conclusions........................................................................................................................ 30
ABSTRACT Neonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection with or without accompanying bacteremia in the first month of life. It encompasses various systemic infections of the newborn such as septicemia, meningitis, pneumonia, arthritis, osteomyelitis, and urinary tract infections. The aim of this study was to assess the maternal factors contributing to neonatal sepsis at KIUTH. This was conducted through a descriptive cross-sectional study design which involved 50 respondents where standardized structured questionnaire was designed to collect data from the respondents. Results showed that most of the postnatal women had knowledge about prevention of neonatal sepsis at KIU-teaching hospital. This came after finding out that respondents were aware of how the disease presents itself in new born babies, and the means of preventing the disease from infecting children. Postnatal mothers care for their children in different ways including; attending antenatal care during pregnancy, proper cleaning of the baby cord, frequent baby bathing, application of local herbs and making sure that they take babies for complete immunization in order to prevent the neonatal sepsis. Results also established that postnatal mothers wash their hands before touching and bathing their babies, changing their clothes after bathing, care for cords while using boiled waters with salts, local herbs, saline water, and application of powder are the practices used during care of newborn at KIU-TH by their mothers. The study recommended that the health workers in the postnatal ward in hospital should all provide health education to newly delivered mothers on the cleaning of the cord and maintaining of the cord before being discharged home. This will help their babies to remain healthy.