Knowledge on neonatal jaundice and its associated factors among mothers in northern Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess mother’s knowledge on neonatal jaundice (NNJ) and its associated factors in northern Ethiopia. DESIGN: Facility-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Referral hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: The study was done among 380 mothers selected using a systematic random sampling technique at referral hospitals in the Amhara region, northern Ethiopia, from 1 March 2019 to 30 July 2019. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Mother’s knowledge on NNJ, modelled using binary logistic regression. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Factors associated with mother’s knowledge about NNJ RESULTS: This study revealed that the overall mother’s knowledge on NNJ was 39.2%. Having favourable attitude (AOR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.34), having a history of NNJ in previous children (AOR=7.51, 95% CI: 3.12 to 18.05), having a history of NNJ in the current child (AOR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.19 to 3.27), antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR=3.85, 95% CI: 1.24 to 14.55) and resided in the urban area (AOR=2.63, 95% CI: 1.32 to 5.25) were factors significantly associated with mother’s knowledge on NNJ. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that mothers' knowledge on NNJ was low. The attitude of mothers on NNJ, previous and current child history of NNJ, ANC follow-up and residence were variables that had a significant association with mother’s knowledge on NNJ. Enhancing NNJ educational programmes targeting mothers in raising awareness on the prevention of NNJ in the population are the recommended interventions.