Antenatal Health Communication and Knowledge of Child Health Care among Nursing Mothers to Prevent Infant Mortality

Abstract

This study examined the influence of antenatal health communication on knowledge of child health care practices among nursing mothers for the prevention of infant mortality. The research was conducted among nursing mothers attending antenatal services at Mother and Child Specialist Hospital, Owa-Alero. The study adopted a survey research design with a sample size of 100 respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis involving frequency distributions and percentages was used to analyse demographic variables such as age, religion, and education, while mean scores and standard deviations were computed for knowledge and child healthcare practice variables measured on a five-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. The hypotheses were tested using a one-sample t-test. Findings revealed that antenatal health communication at Mother and Child Specialist Hospital demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in improving nursing mothers’ knowledge and child health care practices. The study concluded that antenatal health communication is highly effective in transmitting evidence-based knowledge regarding infant care practices among nursing mothers. Consequently, the study recommended continuous implementation and strengthening of antenatal health communication programmes due to their positive impact on maternal and child healthcare outcomes. Keywords: Antenatal, Antenatal Health Communication, Nursing Mothers, Child Health Care Practice, Infant Mortality.