Care practices and traditional beliefs related to neonatal jaundice in northern Vietnam: a population-based, cross-sectional descriptive study

Abstract

BackgroundThe National Hospital of Pediatrics in Vietnam performed >200 exchange transfusions annually (2006–08), often on infants presenting encephalopathic from lower-level hospitals. As factors delaying care-seeking are not known, we sought to study care practices and traditional beliefs relating to neonatal jaundice in northern Vietnam.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive study from November 2008 through February 2010. We prospectively identified mothers of newborns through an on-going regional cohort study. Trained research assistants administered a 78-item questionnaire to mothers during home visits 14–28 days after birth except those we could not contact or whose babies remained hospitalized at 28 days.ResultsWe enrolled 979 mothers; 99% delivered at a health facility. Infants were discharged at a median age of 1.35 days. Only 11% received jaundice education; only 27% thought jaundice could be harmful. During the first week, 77% of newborns were kept in dark rooms. Only 2.5% had routine follow-up before 14 days. Among 118 mothers who were worried by their infant’s jaundice but did not seek care, 40% held non-medical beliefs about its cause or used traditional therapies instead of seeking care. Phototherapy was uncommon: 6 (0.6%) were treated before discharge and 3 (0.3%) on readmission. However, there were no exchange transfusions, kernicterus cases, or deaths.ConclusionsEarly discharge without follow-up, low maternal knowledge, cultural practices, and use of traditional treatments may limit or delay detection or care-seeking for jaundice. However, in spite of the high prevalence of these practices and the low frequency of treatment, no bad outcomes were seen in this study of nearly 1,000 newborns.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2431-14-264) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Knowledge about neonatal jaundice among Nepalese mothers

“…In sub-Saharan Africa also, exposure of newborn with jaundice to sunlight was a common practice 11,22 . The traditional practice about NNJ in Nepal was to expose the newborn to sunlight (87%) and use herbal medicine (78%) which was similar to the study in Vietnam 23 . About 30% mothers avoid food containing turmeric while their baby had jaundice.…”

Knowledge about Neonatal Jaundice among Nepalese Mothers

“…21,22 The traditional practice about NNJ in Nepal was to expose the newborn in sunlight (87%) and used herbal medicine (78%) which was similar to the study in Vietnam. 23 containing turmeric while their baby had jaundice. Maternal education is an important factor influencing newborn health and illness.…”

Morbidité et facteurs de risque de mortalité néonatale dans un hôpital de référence de Douala

“…Ces troubles ont des répercussions immédiates sur la morbidité et la mortalité du nouveau-né mais aussi des conséquences parfois graves sur le développement de l'enfant [ 19 ].. Ceci est un appel à la classification des maternités par niveau de compétence en fonction des ressources humaines et de leur plateau technique. C'est également un appel au renforcement des directives visant à transférer les grossesses à risque in utéro vers les centres spécialisés où la mère et le nouveau-nés peuvent être convenablement pris en charge dans une optique de réduction de la mortalité de la mère et de l´enfant [ 20 ]. Les SONEU et la réanimation du nouveau-né en salle de naissance doivent être enseignés dans tous les centres qui font des accouchements.…”