Effectiveness of Structured Teaching on Care of Low Birth Weight New-borns among Mothers

Abstract

The birth weight of an infant is the single most important determinant of its chances of survival, healthy growth,  and development. One of the factors contributing to infant mortality is low birth weight (LBW). Objectives: (1)  To assess the pre-existing knowledge score of mothers regarding care of LBW newborns, and (2) To assess the  post-test knowledge score of mothers regarding care of LBW newborns. Methods: An evaluative research  approach with a pre-experimental design was used. The study was conducted at a selected hospital in Jalgaon  city, involving 60 mothers of LBW newborns selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire. Results: The majority (40%) of mothers were in the age group of 22–25 years. 
The mean pre-test knowledge score was 11.05, while the mean post-test score was 18.93. The findings revealed  that mothers had inadequate knowledge regarding LBW newborn care before the intervention. The structured  teaching programme was highly effective in improving knowledge levels. Conclusion: Structured teaching  significantly increased mothers’ knowledge about LBW newborn care, highlighting its importance in neonatal  health promotion.