AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF KANGAROO MOTHER CARE AMONG MOTHERS AND THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA.

Nsemo; Alberta David; Mgbekem; Mary A.; Ekwere; Jane

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2018

AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF KANGAROO MOTHER CARE AMONG MOTHERS AND THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA.

Nsemo, Alberta David, Mgbekem, Mary A. , Ekwere, Jane

Abstract :

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an innovative method developed to provide thermal care for all newborns. The study examined awareness and perception of kangaroo mother care among mothers and the role of health care providers in selected primary healthcare facilities in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State. The objectives of the study were to determine the level of awareness of Kangaroo mother care; examine the perception of mothers towards Kangaroo mother care and investigate the role of health care providers in the awareness and perception of Kangaroo mother care, among mothers in selected primary health care facilities in Calabar South Local Government Area. A descriptive survey design employed and sample size of 100 respondents was selected through the simple random and convenience sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire with four (4) sections was used for data collection. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS 21.0 statistical packages while inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The finding revealed low awareness of Kangaroo mother care among mothers 24(24.0%), negative perception of mother towards practice of Kangaroo mother care, 50(50.0%) respondents strongly agreed that they feel very reluctant practicing Kangaroo mother care, and a significant positive relationship between role of health care providers and awareness of kangaroo mother care among mother. The study therefore recommended among others, the need for health care providers to be more responsive in raising awareness of Kangaroo mother care among mothers, which could impact on the perceptions of the mothers positively.