Newborn Care Practices of First-Time Mothers in a Rural Philippine Community: Insights from the Zamboanga Peninsula

Eric D Torino, Randy Ian Ferenal Gallego, Tashmera Laranjo

Abstract


Background: The transition to motherhood, particularly for first-time mothers in rural communities, presents profound challenges due to limited access to healthcare and education. This study investigates newborn care practices among first-time mothers in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines, focusing on the relationship between sociodemographic factors and adherence to recommended care practices.

Methods: The study employed a descriptive quantitative design, surveying 120 first-time mothers using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to capture socio-demographic data and evaluate newborn care practices using a Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s Rho, and Chi-Square correlation to identify significant relationships between variables.

Results: Findings reveal high adherence to newborn care practices, notably in infant feeding, sleep routines, and post-natal health monitoring. However, civil status significantly influences newborn caregiving approaches (χ² = 7.44, p = 0.024), implying that marital status might affect the level of support or resources available to the caregiver, which in turn could impact their caregiving practices.

Conclusion: The study concludes that while newborn care practices among first-time mothers are generally adequate, targeted educational interventions could further improve these practices, especially in areas like cord care. These findings underscore the need for enhanced support and education for first-time mothers to promote optimal newborn care and health outcomes.


Keywords


Newborn care practices; first-time mothers; descriptive correlation; Philippines

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/placentum.v13i1.92917

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