A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of an Information Booklet on Newborn Danger Signs Among the Antenatal Mothers in Selected Rural Maternity and Child Welfare (RMCW) Centres, Udupi District, Karnataka State

Mothers are the primary caregiver of the newborns, thus the knowledge of the mothers regarding newborn danger signs has great influence on the health of the newborns. The purpose of the present study was to prepare the mothers (antenatally) to handle tactfully and wisely to the situation which can pose threat to their newborn. Moreover, this will improve the health status of the newborns and newborns’ survival. The present study revealed that the information booklet on newborn danger signs was found to be effective as the mean post-test knowledge score (18.83) was higher than the mean pre-test knowledge scores (10.13). The overall actual gain in the knowledge was 31.08 and the modified gain was 0.48. Wilcoxon Signed rank test showed that there was significant difference between the mean pre-test and post test knowledge scores (Z=-6.402, p< 0.001) of antenatal mothers. Significant association was found between pre-test knowledge score and parity of the antenatal mothers. The total percentage of antenatal mothers who strongly agreed on the booklet was 78.47%.