Skin-to-Skin Care Practice and Its Associated Factors Among Postpartum Mothers in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Skin-to-skin care is placing an unclothed or diaper-only newborn baby on the mother's bare chest, covered with a warm blanket. The World Health Organization recommends immediate, uninterrupted, and continuous mother-newborn skin-to-skin care practice almost immediately after birth. Despite this recommendation, separation of the newborn from the mother is common in many public health institutions. There was a limited study that examined the prevalence of skin-to-skin care practice and associated factors in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of skin-to-skin care practice and its associated factors among postpartum mothers in Gurage Zone public health centers, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in twenty-two public health centers of Gurage Zone from January 1st up to 30th, 2020. A total of 382 postpartum mothers were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1.0 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant factors associated with skin-to-skin care practice. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value of <0.05 with a 95% confidence level. Results: About 35.3% (95% CI; 31.3%-40.4%) of new-borns were received skin-to-skin care practice. Being urban residence [AOR=2.23, (95% CI; 1.17-4.23)], normal newborn birth weight (>= 2500gm) [AOR=3.1, (95% CI; 2.15-3.89)], early initiation of breastfeeding [AOR=2.93, (95% CI; 1.29-6.64)], colostrum feeding [AOR=4.19, (95% CI; 2.01-8.73)], and having mothers good knowledge on skin-to-skin care practice [AOR=8.51, (95% CI; 4.32-16.75)] were some of factors associated with mother to newborn skin-to-skin care practice. Conclusion: The proportion of mother newborn skin-to-skin care practice was low in the study area. Mothers resided in the urban areas, normal newborn birth weight, early initiation of breastfeeding, colostrum feeding, and having good knowledge of the mothers about skin-to-skin care were factors associated with skin-to-skin care practice. Therefore, health care workers should counsel mothers on optimal breastfeeding practice and enhance maternal awareness regarding the merits of skin-to-skin care practice before discharge from the health facilities are recommended.

Automated summary

The study found a low implementation rate of mother-newborn skin-to-skin care practice in Gurage Zone. Factors associated with skin-to-skin care practice included urban residence, normal newborn birth weight, early initiation of breastfeeding, colostrum feeding, and mothers' good knowledge of skin-to-skin care practice.