Abstract

OBJECTIVE:- To study the effect of pre discharge counseling on knowledge, attitude and practice about prevailing myths and social beliefs in newborns discharged from NICU STUDY DESIGN:- Prospective questionnaire based observational study METHOD:- We included 365 postnatal mothers in the study. Structured 10 item questionnaire presented to them in their vernacular language before and after counseling about prevailing myths and beliefs and same questionnaire done after 7 days in follow up. Pretest, Posttest and follow-up answers collected systematically in form of knowledge, attitude and practice and analyzed. RESULTS:- Mean knowledge score was 0.4 ± 0.491 before counseling and it was 0.94 ± 0.231 after counseling and 0.9 ± 0.302 at first follow up at 7 days. Mean attitude score was 0.33 ± 0.47 before counseling and 0.82 ± 0.385 after counseling and 0.8 ± 0.401 at first follow up. Mean practice score was 0.3 ± 0.458 before counseling and 0.99 ± 0.104 after counseling and 0.7 ± 0.458 at first follow up. A significant association was found in all KAP scores before and after counseling with P value <0.05. CONCLUSION:- In this study we observed pre discharge counseling about myths and social beliefs have a significant impact on their knowledge, attitude and practice. It is recommended in all NICU settings and it may have a large impact on community level too.

Description

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