ISSN 2756-3332
African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2756-3332 Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2021. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Papers
Low birth weight knowledge among postnatal mothers in a resource restricted urban setting in Zimbabwe
Helen Vupenyu Gundani1* and Jesca Mutowo2
1Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, P. O. Box 178 A, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
2Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe.
Accepted 11 November, 2020
Abstract
This study aimed to establish the knowledge of postnatal mothers about low birth weight (LBW) in a resource restricted urban setting. A non-experimental descriptive study was conducted using a systematic sampling method to select fifty mothers aged between 15 and 41 years with babies below five years born with LBW of below 2500 grams. The women were selected as they sought health care at Mabvuku Satellite Clinic in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. Data were collected using an investigator- administered interview guide that also included three open-ended questions. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, percentages and tables. The major finding was that all participants had inadequate knowledge about LBW. Their total score was below 50% with a mean of 1.56% which, on the scale of “adequate knowledge” score levels defined by Nachega et al. (2005) was well below the 75% plus accepted score for adequate knowledge. Additionally, findings showed that all the participants did not remember any information they received on LBW during pre/ postnatal care. Eighty percent of the participants stated that nurses did not talk about LBW. To increase knowledge on LBW, we advocate that a manual on topics to be covered during pre/postnatal care be developed and that both young men and women, pregnant and not, be educated on factors associated with LBW by health care providers.
Key words: Low birth weight, resource restricted setting, weight in grams, poor socio-economic factors, pre/postnatal.