TITLE:
Knowledge of Health Professionals on Essential Newborn Care in Bamako, Mali
AUTHORS:
Fatoumata Dicko Traoré, Mariam Sylla, Hawa Diall, Mamadou Traoré, Pierre Togo, Mariam Maïga, Nouhoum Lalama Traoré, Leyla Maïga, Kalirou Traoré, Marikomossé Sacko, Souleymane Sagara, Hamadou Ibrahim, Oumou Maïga, Diakaridia Mariko, Saoudatou Tall, Oumar Coulibaly, Issiaka Koné, Modibo Soumaré, Kadiatou Ba, Youssouf Traoré, Niani Mounkoro, Toumani Sidibé
KEYWORDS:
Essential Care, Newborn, Knowledge, Bamako
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.8 No.4,
December
3,
2018
ABSTRACT: Despite
existing policies on training health professionnels in essential newborn care (ENC),
neonatal mortality still remains high in Mali. Our work aimed to assess the
level of knowledge of health staff about ENC. Material and methods: From
March 20th to April 20th, 2016, we interviewed newborn
care providers at the six reference health centers and the Gabriel Touré University
Hospital Center in Bamako. Results: In total, we interviewed 407 newborn
care providers with a sex ratio of 0.52. Interviewees had over five years work
experience in 62.1%. They considered a low Apgar score as an indication for
neonatal resuscitation in 89%, regardless of profile (p = 0.1583). They knew
the good aspiration technique in 54%, with nurses and midwives more
knowledgeable (p ) of the reference health centers (p = 0.0000). The interviewees knew the
indication and rate of ventilation in 30.2% and 16.0%, respectively. About one
third (34%) thought oxygen administration should
be systematic during ventilation. The knowledge level on ventilation was the
lowest in the group of general practitioners (p = 0.0063 for oxygen indication and p for the technique). Knowledge level for other ENC components
(temperature maintenance, eyes care, breastfeeding) were higher. The knowledge
of the delay of the breasting did not correlated with either the profile (p =
0.0857) or the place of practice. The knowledge of the first bath was dependent
on both the professional profile (p = 0.0002) and the reference level (p =
0.0238). Conclusion: The level of knowledge of health professionnels on
ENC should be improved. This will involve the integration of ENC in initial
training curricula along with an appropriate continuing training policy
thereafter.