EFFECTS OF MATERNAL HANDWASHING ON PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AMONG NEONATES IN WESTERN HEALTH REGION OF THE GAMBIA

Abstract

Background: The Gambia has made significant progress in responding to the high neonatal mortality that the country is facing. Despite this important achievement, neonatal mortality especially from infectious origins still remains a challenge in this country. Hence the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of maternal hand washing promotion on the prevention of infectious diseases among neonates in the western health regions of The Gambia.

Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design. A multistage sampling method was used to select a representative sample of 800 postnatal mothers who were either in the newly born babies’ ward or attending infant welfare clinics in Brikama and Fajikunda health facilities respectively. This sample was equally distributed to the intervention and control groups (400 participants in each group). Baseline (pretest) information was collected from the participants of both study groups before introducing the intervention to the intervention group. Two hand washing practical sessions (intervention 1 and 2) were given to the intervention group with 2 weeks in between the sessions. After each session a posttest was conducted (posttest 1 and 2). The result was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software.

Results: The demographic characteristics of the two study groups showed that the groups were equivalent and their characteristics mimic that of the general population of the Gambia. The result also showed that after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the practices of hand washing among the intervention and control groups at post-test (M =18.79; SD = 2.89) and (M =17.76; SD = 2.84), F (1, 797) = 39.96, p <.001). The maternal hand washing intervention was found to be protective against neonatal infections (healthier babies found more in the intervention group than in the control group) at post-test. Of all the predictor variables, employment status best predicts hand washing practice (β=0.104; t= 2.898 and p < .005).

Conclusion: Teaching postnatal mothers hand washing techniques before and after caring for their neonates can help to reduce neonatal infections.

Trial registration: Name of Registry: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (pactr.samrc.ac.za). Registry Number: PACTR202401789413039. Date of Registration: 23 January 2024. Retrospectively Registered.