Knowledge Regarding Care of Low Birth Neonates among Nurses of Morang, Nepal

Babies born preterm or at low birth weight are at increased risk of immediate life-threatening health problems as well as long-term complications and developmental delays. The occurrence of this condition causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children. The nurses are the key persons to provide care for the low birth weight neonates. The role of nurses to assess the low birth weight babies and to protect them from various complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS  A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to find out the level of knowledge regarding care of low birth weight neonates among 60 registered nurses of Nepal (staff nurses and bachelor nurses) by using enumerative technique in Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. Semi-structured, pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data and analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistic with SPSS version 16. RESULTS The study findings revealed that 63.3% of the respondents had high level of knowledge regarding care of low birth weight neonates. There was no statistically significant association between respondents' professional qualification and respondents' level of knowledge regarding care of low birth weight neonates. CONCLUSION The study concluded that more than half of the respondents had high level of knowledge regarding care of low birth weight neonates. Nurse is an important primary care provider and therefore, her education and access to information on care of low birth weight new born will help her provide adequate care and prevent complications in low birth weight babies.