Newborn care practices in urban slums of Lucknow city, UP

• Main Authors: Gupta Pratibha (Author), Srivastava V (Author), Kumar Vishwajeet (Author), Jain Savita (Author), Masood Jamal (Author), Ahmad Naim (Author), Srivastava J (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0970-0218; 1998-3581
• Keywords: Birth asphyxia; breastfeeding; hypothermia; newborn; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Indian Journal of Community Medicine, Vol 35, Iss 1, Pp 82-85 (2010)

<b>Objectives:</b> To study the knowledge and practices related to newborn care in urban slums of Lucknow city, UP, and to identify critical behaviors, practices, and barriers that influence the survival of newborns. <b> Materials and</b> <b> Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study in urban slums of Lucknow city, UP, included 524 women who had a live birth during last 1 year preceding data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS 10.0 for windows. <b> Results:</b> Study findings showed that about half of the deliveries took place at home. Majority (77.1&#x0025;) of the mothers believed that baby should be bathed with warm water and dried with clean cloth and 79.7&#x0025; mothers practiced it. Only 36.6&#x0025; mothers initiated breast-feeding within 1 h of birth and 30.2&#x0025; initiated after 1 day. The mothers who have not given colostrum to their baby, in majority the reason was customs. <b> Conclusion:</b> In majority of cases, correct knowledge and correct practices regarding newborn care were lacking among mothers and this should be promoted through improved coverage with existing health services.