Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Associated Factors of Kangaroo Mother Care for Neonatal Survival Among Care Takers of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants in Health Care Settings, Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia, 2018

Background: In Ethiopia , preterm and low-birth weight is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and Mortality. Many of these deaths can be prevented using Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) which has been proven and cost-effective intervention especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, there is presently a lack of KMC data in the region on the barriers causing a low record for KMC, is it attitude or knowledge. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitude, practices and associated factors of KMC among caretakers of preterm and LBW infants. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was done in KMC centers on 93 care takers in Hawassa health care settings from March 2018 to April 2018. Study participants were selected using a convenient random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaire interviews and extract information during review of records and observation. These data were cleaned, coded and entered using EpiData Version 3.1 statistical software then transferred to SPSS software package version 22 for analyses and explained with texts, figures and tables. Pearson chi-square was computed to test the association between independent and outcome variables.  P-value of chi-square (X 2 ) <0.05 with 95% CI was confirmed as statistically significant. Results: Fifty nine (68.6 %) study participants were knowledgeable on Kangaroo mother care and 61.6 % had the good practice of KMC. Three variables ( having delivery in KMC health care setting (p=0.018), being skilled birth attendant (p=0.0001) and getting KMC counseling (p=0.001)) had statically significant association with knowledge of caregivers regarding to KMC, whereas two variables (being knowledgeable on KMC (p=0.001) and being skilled birth attendant (p=0.006)) had statically significant association with caregivers’ practice of Kangaroo mother care. Conclusion: Our study shows that overall knowledge and practice of care takers of premature and low birth weight infants regarding KMC was low . Some factors of care takers affect the knowledge and practice of KMC for caring in premature and LBW infants. Recommendation: KMC counseling and education should be conducted during ANC follow up and delivery should be assisted by skilled birth attendant in KMC health care settings to improve their knowledge. Besides, knowledge of KMC should be generated to increase the practice of KMC. Keywords: KMC , knowledge, attitude, practice care takers, associated factors, Ethiopia DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/58-01