AWARENESS OF PREGNANT WOMEN ABOUT PREVENTION AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEONATAL JAUNDICE IN SELECTED HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN OWO, ONDO STATE

Neonatal jaundice is a common public health issue that contributes significantly to newborn mortality and morbidity. Preventive measures, such as early detection and treatment, play a crucial role in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. This study assessed the level of awareness of pregnant women about prevention and factors associated with neonatal jaundice in selected health care facilities in Owo, Ondo state, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and multistage sampling technique was adopted for this study. A self-structured questionnaire was employed for data collection. A sample size of 125 respondents were selected. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for data analysis. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The mean ± SD age of participants was 30 ± 0.81 years. The study showed a high awareness level of 82.4%, and a positive attitude level of 52% among respondents. The findings from this study shows that there is a significant relationship between age and level of awareness on prevention of neonatal jaundice (X2 =105.947, df =3, p< 0.05). Also, a significant relationship was found between level of education and level of awareness on prevention of neonatal jaundice (X2 =52.762, df =3, p< 0.05). Additionally, the study showed that the respondents had high awareness and positive attitude. The researcher recommends that nurses should ensure that the topic of neonatal jaundice is properly taught during antenatal care visits, with the aid of easily understandable educational materials and health education. Word count: 247 words Key words: awareness, attitude, factors, neonatal jaundice (NNJ).