Appraisal of maternal knowledge of neonatal jaundice in Ilesa, Southwestern Nigeria: what implications for persistence of acute bilirubin encephalopathy in developing countries

The response of mothers to jaundice in their babies will depend on the knowledge of the mothers on the danger of the jaundice in their babies. Aim: The aim of the present study therefore, was to assess the knowledge of mothers on jaundice in their babies so as improve it. Methods: This is a crosssectional study of mothers and their newborn babies brought for routine immunization in one secondary and twelve primary health facilities at Ilesa, Southwestern Nigeria. The babies were recruited consecutively over a period of five months (March to July 2014). Data collected were entered into a research proforma designed for the study using structured questionnaires and additional oral questioning of the mothers on knowledge of neonatal jaundice and what step to take and what treatment is expected. Knowledge of jaundice is to know it is the yellowness of the eyes and/or skin and knowledge of step to take is to take the baby to health facility and/or the use of special light in the health facility only. Use of other medications or treatment before, during or after is inappropriate step. Results: Three hundred and forty two mothers and their corresponding babies aged 0 to 28 days were studied. Two hundred and seventeen (63.5%) mothers had appropriate knowledge of what neonatal jaundice is while 125 (36.5%) did not. Sixty-five (30.0%) mothers of the 217 mothers also had knowledge of step/treatment to take while 152 (70.0%) did not. There is better knowledge of neonatal jaundice with increased parity, maternal age, maternal social class, attendance of antenatal care, places of birth and having had baby with jaundice (p = 0.000). This is similar to knowledge of appropriate step/ treatment to take. Among mothers without appropriate knowledge was the use of other medications like Ampiclox, solution made from pawpaw leaves in water, exposure to early sunlight, multivitamins, native herbal preparations in that order. Also, 21(9.7%) to 48 (22.1%) of the 217 mothers knew inherent dangers in inappropriate treated neonatal jaundice. Conclusions and recommendations: There is paucity of knowledge of mothers on neonatal jaundice in the area of study. This may lead to wrong health care seeking behaviour among mothers of babies with jaundice or mothers reporting late to health facilities; a major predisposition to prevalence of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Early exposure of girl child at school and pregnant mothers to appropriate health information during antenatal care visitations may be the key to prevent kernicterus.