Prevalence and Factors Associated with Poor Newborn Home Care Among Postnatal Mothers in Lira City, Northern Uganda

— Background: Proper newborn care is essential in the fight against neonatal mortality and morbidity among babies. The care practices include delaying bathing of the baby until after 24 hours, initiation of breastfeeding within one hour following delivery, thermal care and clean cord care are essential in the reduction of newborn mortality. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with poor newborn home care among postnatal mothers in Lira City, Northern Uganda. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey employing a quantitative method of data collection from postnatal mothers attending postnatal care in selected health facilities within Lira city. The study was conducted among 422 postnatal mothers. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The most common newborn care practices reported by the mothers were cleaning the cord with Cool clean boiled water (73.9%), cleaning the cord three times a day (77.55%), covering the baby with blankets (98.1%), feeding the baby on honey (44.3%) and not touching the waist of male babies (74.4%).Overall, the prevalence of good newborn home care was at 46.2% and poor newborn home care was 53.8%.The factors that were associated with poor newborn care were low or no maternal education, delivery from home, marital status, and birth order of the baby. Conclusion: Poor newborn home care practices are still common among mothers with a low level of education (Primary) or uneducated, mothers who deliver by cesarean section, unmarried, and mothers who give birth at home. Interventions to improve newborn home safety should target low ed