New-born Thermal Care in Western Uttar Pradesh – Gap Analysis Between Knowledge and Practices

Abstract Background: The provision of health care services including maternal and new-born care is considered to be a dynamic system of entitlement and obligations among people, the communities, service providers, and the concerned governments. Thermal control remains poor in new-born owing to immaturity of the thermoregulatory center and new-born become vulnerable to hypothermia especially premature babies, intrauterine growth retardation and LBW babies and even normal babies. Methods: The study population comprised women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) who have delivered a live baby within the past 12 weeks prior to the conduct of study. Out of 6 block, most populous villages were selected, one near the CHC and 2nd farthest from CHC and high priority was given to villages where ASHA and ANM are appointed.61 villages of 6 blocks were covered under the study. Results: The knowledge on thermal protection of baby, 60.9% of the respondents were well aware about how to keep baby warm after delivery,71.4% of respondents knew that baby should be dried soon after birth, 64.9% of the respondents had idea of time to dry the baby, 69.6% of the respondents had knowledge that baby should be wrapped soon after birth.Conclusion: The findings of the study provide an insight into the existing knowledge and necessitate a need for quantitative studies in the study area to access knowledge & practices related to thermal protection of new-born. The authors emphasize on a need for improving community awareness for promotion of neonatal care and improve health system to meet the demands of birthing mothers and needs of neonates.