Effect of Maternal Education and Encouragement on Newborn Care Utilization: A Health System Intervention

Abstract Background: The objective of this health system interventional study was to determine the effect of delivering newborn-care-oriented education and encouragement to receive newborn care on newborn care utilization.Methods: This study was performed in the urban health centers of the catchment area of Tehran Defined Population, which covered 10 of the 22 municipality districts of Tehran. The two catchment areas included 10,000 families in the intervention and 20,000 families in the control areas. As many as 4837 newborns (intervention=1544, control=3293) were enrolled and followed until the end of the second month of life. The utilization of newborn care was compared among the intervention and control groups. Results: Almost 99.6% in the intervention group and 99.5% in the control group did their screening tests. The mean number of newborn care visits was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group: 2.26 (0.99) versus 1.84 (1.07), p<0.001. Newborns' attendance in the first newborn care visit was more among newborns who were born through normal birth compared to those who were born through the caesarian section: 51.2% CI [48.1, 54.3] versus 38.6%; 95% CI [37.1, 40.2], p<0.001. Conclusions: The intervention improved newborn care utilization during the first two months after birth. It could be suggested that active follow-up be added to newborn care guidelines, and parents be informed of the necessity and benefits of newborn care and be encouraged to perform all three newborn care visits.