@article{f26daff342f54638b75b17b893e570d8,
title = "Low knowledge of newborn danger signs among pregnant women in Papua New Guinea and implications for health seeking behaviour in early infancy – findings from a longitudinal study",
abstract = "Background: Globally, 2.5 million babies die in the first 28 days of life each year with most of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Early recognition of newborn danger signs is important in prompting timely care seeking behaviour. Little is known about women{\textquoteright}s knowledge of newborn danger signs in Papua New Guinea. This study aims to assess this knowledge gap among a cohort of women in East New Britain Province. Methods: This study assessed knowledge of newborn danger signs (as defined by the World Health Organization) at three time points from a prospective cohort study of women in East New Britain Province, factors associated with knowledge of danger signs after childbirth were assessed using logistic regression. This study includes quantitative and qualitative interview data from 699 pregnant women enrolled at their first antenatal clinic visit, followed up after childbirth (n = 638) and again at one-month post-partum (n = 599). Results: Knowledge of newborn danger signs was very low. Among the 638 women, only 9.4% knew three newborn danger signs after childbirth and only one knew all four essential danger signs defined by Johns Hopkins University {\textquoteleft}Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness{\textquoteright} Index. Higher knowledge scores were associated with higher gravidity, income level, partner involvement in antenatal care, and education. Conclusion: Low levels of knowledge of newborn danger signs among pregnant women are a potential obstacle to timely care-seeking in rural Papua New Guinea. Antenatal and postnatal education, and policies that support enhanced education and decision-making powers for women and their families, are urgently needed.",
keywords = "Antenatal and postpartum education, Care seeking, Danger signs, Knowledge, Newborn, Pregnant women",
author = "Donya Eghrari and Scoullar, {Michelle J.L.} and Wilson, {Alyce N.} and Elizabeth Peach and Arthur Elijah and Pele Melepia and Hadlee SupSup and Vallely, {Lisa M.} and Siba, {Peter M.} and Kennedy, {Elissa C.} and Vogel, {Joshua P.} and Homer, {Caroline S.E.} and Robinson, {Leanne J.} and Fowkes, {Freya J.I.} and William Pomat and Crabb, {Brendan S.} and Beeson, {James G.} and Morgan, {Christopher J.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by the Burnet Institute with philanthropic support provided by numerous private and business donors in Australia and PNG, including the Bank South Pacific Community Grant, the June Canavan Foundation, Gras Foundation, Finkel Foundation, Chrysalis Foundation and the Stewart-Naylor Fund. Several authors receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (Senior Research Fellowship to JGB and Program Grant to JGB and BSC, Career Development Fellowships to FJIF and LJR, Early Career Fellowship to LMV, Postgraduate Research Scholarship to CM. MJLS received a Basser Research Entry Scholarship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Foundation (2018 and 2020). The Burnet Institute is supported by an Operational Infrastructure Grant from the State Government of Victoria, Australia, and the Independent Research Institutes Infrastructure Support Scheme of the NHMRC of Australia. The funders had no role in study design, implementation or analysis, or the decision to publish. Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the women and infants who participated in this study, as well as the families and communities who supported them to do so. Our special thanks to the National Department of Health, the East New Britain Provincial Administration, the Provincial Health Authority, Catholic Health Services and participating health facilities (Nonga General Hospital, St Mary{\textquoteright}s Vunapope, Kerevat rural hospital, Napapar health centre, Paparatava health centre) for enthusiastically facilitating our research team to work alongside them. Specific thanks to Mr Levi Mano and Mr Nicholas Larme, Dr Ako Yap, Mr Moses Bogandri, Mr Benedict Mode, Dr Beryl Vetuna, Dr Pinip Wapi, Dr Felix Diaku, Dr Tanmay Bagade, Dr Delly Babona, Sr Placidia Nohan, Sr Theonila Wat and Sr Rebecca Penaia who have provided invaluable support and advice throughout the planning and implementation of this work in ENB. We gratefully acknowledge the dedication and contribution by our HMHB team who worked tirelessly to implement this study, specifically we would like to thank: Dr Stenard Hiasihri, Essie Koniel, Dukduk Kabiu, Ruth Fidelis, Wilson Philip, Priscah Hezeri, Kerryanne Tokmun, Primrose Homiehombo, Rose Suruka, Benishar Kombut, Thalia Wat, Noelyne Taraba, Chris Sohenaloe, Dorish Palagat, Zoe Saulep, Elizabeth Walep, Lucy Au, Irene Daniels, Gabriella Kalimet-Tade, Noreen Tamtilik, Ellen Kavang, Wilson Kondo, Allan Tirang, Michael Palauva, Ioni Pidian, Teddy Wanahau, Eremas Amos, Bettie Matonge, Elice Adimain, Thelma Punion, Lucy Palom. Thank you to the invaluable project support from Burnet Institute Melbourne, especially: Kellie Woiwod, James Lawson, Lisa Davidson, Vivian Newton, Lisa Vitasovich and Rodney Stewart. Additional thanks to Prof Michael Toole, Prof Margaret Hellard, Prof Stanley Luchters, Alexandra Umbers and Hannah Clark. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s).",
year = "2023",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1186/s12884-022-05322-6",
language = "English",
volume = "23",
journal = "BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth",
issn = "1471-2393",
publisher = "BioMed Central",
number = "1",
}