Attached
Objectives: Neonatal mortality is one of the most neglected health problems in the developing world. The proper
and adequate knowledge and attitudes regarding neonatal care among mothers needed to control the neonatal
mortality. There is a paucity of data regarding the level of knowledge, attitudes and associated factors on neonatal
care among antenatal mothers in Sri Lanka. Objectives were to describe level of knowledge, attitudes on neonatal
care and associated factors among mothers in antenatal clinics at Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional using a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire
among systematic randomly selected antenatal mothers (n=377). This study was approved by the Ethics Review
Committee, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Results: The study found that more than half of the participants (55.2%) had inadequate knowledge level on
neonatal care. Majority of them (95%) had favorable attitudes level on neonatal care. The age of antenatal mothers
(P = 0.032), average monthly-income (P = 0.022), number of living children in family (P = 0.000) and main source
of information on neonatal care (P = 0.001) were significantly associated with poor knowledge level regarding
neonatal care. Similarly, living area (P = 0.010) and main source of information (P = 0.021) were significantly
associated with moderate attitudes level on neonatal care.
Conclusions: Nearly half of the antenatal mothers had inadequate level of knowledge regarding neonatal care. This
point to an urgent need of health education programs on neonatal care for antenatal mothers
