Knowledge And Attitude of Nurses about Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Duhok Governorate: Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and objectives: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is the most common medical condition in the neonates. About 60% of term and 80% of preterm infants develop jaundice during 1st week of life. The objectives of the study were to assess knowledge and attitude of nurses toward hyperbilirubinemia , and to find out whether there were any relationships between nurses knowledge and attitude with sociodemographic data. Subjects and methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study was done all nurses (n=166) working in the neonatal intensive care units and different departments in governmental hospitals in Duhok governorate has been recruited to the study during the period started from 1 st May to 1 st August 2019. Results: The study revealed that the majority of nurses had fair knowledge about concepts, definition of phototherapy 98 (59%), causes 78 (47%), Intervention of bilirubin level and steps of management 125 (75.3%), side effects 106 (63.9). While 98.8% of nurses had good knowledge regarding clinical manifestations 164 (98.8%), Investigations 137 (82.5%), complications 78 (47.0%) and Nursing care 159 (95.8%). It also found that there was a significant relationship between demographic data and nurses' knowledge. Moreover, 145 (87.3%) of nurses held neutral attitude toward neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Finally, the study found a significant relationship between attitude and demographic factors. Conclusions: The study concludes that nurses working in Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric wards had fair knowledge regarding concepts, causes, steps of management, side effects of phototherapy and good knowledge regarding clinical manifestations, investigations, complications and nursing care. Furthermore, nurses held neutral attitude towards neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Neonatal Jaundice Management: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Among Nurses and Midwives in the Northern Region, Ghana

“…A cross-sectional study conducted in Kurdistan, Iraq, among 166 nurses reported satisfactory knowledge on NNJ including phototherapy treatment (59.0%), causes (47.0%), and guidelines for management (75.3%). The study equally reported good knowledge of nurses on the clinical presentation of NNJ (98.8%), physical examination (82.5%), accompanying complications (47.0%), and nursing care practices (95.8%) ( Mirza & Atrushi, 2019 ). Another cross-sectional study involving 60 staff nurses in Mysuru, India, showed an average knowledge (51.66%) of NNJ and significant association between participants’ knowledge and years of experience and unit where they work ( Chandrasekhar et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Effective delivery of light, correct positioning of the baby, adequate skin exposure, maintaining proper hydration, daily weighing, and promoting interaction between parents and the neonate are also important nursing care practices for managing NNJ ( Ghada et al, 2016 ; Stark & Lannon, 2009 ; Yost, 2017 ). Mirza and Atrushi (2019) conducted a study in Kurdistan, Iraq, among 166 nurses and found that only 12.7% had a positive attitude towards NNJ, while the majority (87.3%) held a neutral attitude. According to Ahmed and Hani (2017) , among 41 nurses in Minia, Egypt, the common nursing care practices towards NNJ included phototherapy, proper covering and shielding of gonad, appropriate positioning of neonates, and assessment and regulation of thermoregulation device.…”

“…The important question is what is the KAP of health workers, particularly nurses and midwives towards NNJ? Studies conducted elsewhere that involved health workers reported varying proportions of KAP towards NNJ ( Alemu et al, 2011 ; Issa et al, 2018 ; Mirza & Atrushi, 2019 ; Shehu et al, 2019 ). Nurses’ role in the quest to attain the Sustainable Development Goal-3 and towards reducing neonatal mortalities and morbidities is significant.…”