THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADEQUATE PRENATAL CARE AND THE ADOPTION OF ESSENTIAL NEWBORN CARE PRACTICES IN THE KASSENA- NAN KANA MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA

Abstract

Poor new-born care practices are contributing to infant deaths especially during the neonatal period. Antenatal care is a key strategy used by the Ghana Health Service to improve new-born survival through the promotion of new born care practices (safe cord care, optimal thermal care and good neonatal) feeding) among expectant mothers. However, very little is known in the Kassena-Nankana municipality about the contribution of adequate antenatal care utilization to the adoption of new-born care practices by caregivers. A community based analytic cross-sectional study design was employed in the study. Thirty (30) clusters were generated using probability proportionate to size (PPS) sampling methodology and systematic random sampling used to select 634 households where one year postpartum women were interviewed using a semi structured questionnaire. Results from the study revealed that only 37 (6.2 %) of respondents were judged to have had safe cord care, 214 (35.7%) had optimal thermal care, and 398 (66.3%) were considered to have had adequate neonatal feeding. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that women who delivered in a health facility were 93 % less likely (AOR=O. 07 [C1: 0.03, 0.14]) to practice safe cord care but 33.2 times more likely (AOR=33. 17 [CI: 8.08,136.10]) to give optimal thermal care to their babies. Tn conclusion, adequacy of prenatal care utilization in the study area was significantly associated with only good neonatal feeding practices but not safe cord care and optimal thermal care, suggestive of the fact that, antenatal care counselling package lack key messages on cord care and optimal thermal care practices. Ghana Health Service should therefore integrate key messages on new-born care practices into the routine ANC services in the municipality to raise the knowledge and possible adoption of these practices at home by caregivers.