Prenatal Training Improves New Mothers’ Understanding of Jaundice

Abstract

BackgroundMothers’ knowledge of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is grossly deficient or inaccurate, which may adversely affect the actions of mothers in the recognition of NNJ and cause a delay in seeking medical attention.Material/MethodsA total of 1036 primiparas were separated randomly into the intervention group and the control group, with 518 primiparas in each group.ResultsAll (100%) mothers in the intervention group understood that NNJ is a yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera; 94.19% of them considered that NNJ is a common problem in newborns; 82.80% and 95.27% replied that jaundice appearing within the first 36 hours and lasting more than 2 weeks usually indicates pathological NNJ; 96.34%, 80.86%, and 90.32% realized that premature newborns, low birth weight, and perinatal asphyxia, respectively, are more likely to be accompanied by NNJ; 97.41%, 78.71%, and 64.95% knew that maternal-fetal blood group incompatibility, infection, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, respectively, are the common inducements to NNJ; 94.84% could associate NNJ with brain damage; 92.26%, 93.12%, and 74.62% agreed that phototherapy, strengthen feeding, and exchange blood transfusion, respectively, can greatly relieve NNJ. However, some respondents in the control group responded in other ways, such as stopping breastfeeding (9.19%), placing newborns in sunlight (10.24%) and traditional Chinese medicine (10.24%), which was significantly higher than that of the intervention group. There was also a significant delay for respondents in the control group in consulting a pediatrician, and 6.30% of them did not seek medical help until after the interview.ConclusionsPrenatal training could significantly improve new mothers’ understanding of NNJ.

Breastfeeding Experiences of Taiwanese Mothers of Infants with Breastfeeding or Breast Milk Jaundice in Certified Baby-Friendly Hospitals

“…This study found that women could insist on continuing breastfeeding despite their physical discomfort or the impact from neonatal jaundice during the first week after birth. The finding was differed from that of previous studies, which showed that mothers stopped breastfeeding when and after their neonates had breastfeeding or breast milk jaundice [23]. In the contemporary breastfeeding-friendly environment, it was found that mothers did not need to stop and could continue breastfeeding.…”

“…They may have found it too overwhelming to learn about neonatal jaundice effectively at that time. Previous research showed that prenatal training could significantly help mothers understand neonatal jaundice [29]. This finding suggests that information about neonatal jaundice should be provided in prenatal health education for pregnant women who intend to breastfeed to improve knowledge and perceptions of breastfeeding and breast milk jaundice and reduce anxiety among postpartum women.…”

“…Some mothers worry that breastfeeding could worsen a newborn's jaundice, which could result in a longer duration of phototherapy [22]. These women could become anxious and consider discontinuing breastfeeding [23]. Past studies seldom described breastfeeding experiences of women with breastfeeding-associated jaundiced babies.…”

Neonatal Jaundice: Its Determinants Among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Tigray Region General Hospitals, Northern Ethiopia

“…4 Jaundice, which occurs within the first 36 hours and lasts more than 2 weeks, accounts for 82.8% and 95.27%, respectively. 5 Neonatal sepsis (66.7%), prematurity (15.2%), lack of breastfeeding (9%), and ABO incompatibility (5.2%) were the leading causes of neonatal jaundice. 6 In Africa, the incidence of severe neonatal jaundice accounts for 667.8 per 100 000 live births, which is higher than the incidence in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, America, and the European regions.…”

Maternal detection of neonatal jaundice during birth hospitalization using a novel two-color icterometer

“…Improved maternal knowledge does not always translate into improved care-seeking practices for neonatal jaundice. Nonetheless, several studies have demonstrated that maternal education has favorable impact on maternal recognition and care-seeking practices for neonatal jaundice [ 12 , 25 , 29 , 34 ]. Better understanding and empowerment will likely prevent most mothers from overlooking the potential risks of untreated or lately treated significant jaundice such as mortality and life-long disability in otherwise healthy newborns.…”