ESSENTIAL NEWBORN CARE PRACTICES AMONG THE MOTHERS OF NEPAL

Regarding the challenges of reducing under-five mortality and morbidity, specific focus has to be given to reduce infant and neonatal deaths. In Nepal, the neonatal mortality has continued to account for 54 % as a proportion of infant mortality. Nepal has 33 neonatal death per one thousands live births. To design appropriate community based interventions for better neonatal survival, essential newborn care practice of mother is crucial. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess essential newborn care practices in selected essential newborn health parameters thermal protection, clean delivery, cord care and breastfeeding in Eastern Nepal. These are the key parameters of essential new born health. The methodology used in this study was analytical method namely population based cross-sectional study, which was carried out by means of semi- structured pilot. The population based cross- sectional study was carried out in 20 VDCs out of 65 VDCs of Morang. Essential Neonatal care practices among respondents mothers were assessed in reference to clean Cord Care,thermal Care, early breast feeding practices

Mahendra Bikram Shah, MPH, studied Masters of Public Health, BPKISH, Dharan, Nepal. He has been working as National Project Coordinator in The Britiain Nepal Medical Trust(BNMT) for last three years. Before this, he has also worked in SDC, GTZ, CARE and PLAN International in Nepal for 15 years.