Mothers treatment seeking intention for neonatal danger signs in northwest Ethiopia: A structural equation modeling

Tariku Nigatu Bogale; Abebaw Gebeyehu Worku; Alemayehu Worku Yalew; Gashaw Andargie Bikis; Zemene Tigabu Kebede

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0209959

Mothers treatment seeking intention for neonatal danger signs in northwest Ethiopia: A structural equation modeling

PLoS One. 2018 Dec 31;13(12):e0209959. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209959. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Tariku Nigatu Bogale¹, Abebaw Gebeyehu Worku¹, Alemayehu Worku Yalew², Gashaw Andargie Bikis¹, Zemene Tigabu Kebede³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
² School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Neonatal mortality contributes to nearly half of under-five mortality in Ethiopia. Treatment seeking for newborn danger signs remains low despite correlations with neonatal mortality. This study tests a theoretical model of factors affecting mothers' treatment seeking intention for neonatal danger signs in northwest Ethiopia.

Method: A cross sectional study was conducted from March 3-18, 2016 in northwest Ethiopia. A total of 2,158 pregnant women and women who had delivered in the past 6 months were interviewed. Latent variables; knowledge of neonatal danger signs (KDS), household level women empowerment (HLWE) and positive perception toward the behavior of health care providers (PPBHCP) were measured using a Five Point Likert Scale. Socioeconomic status (SES), number of antenatal care attendance, perceived cost of treatment (PCT), average distance to health facilities (ADHF) and treatment seeking intention (TSI) were observed variables in the study. A structural equation modeling was applied to test and estimate the hypothesized model of relationships among latent and observed variables and their direct and indirect effects on TSI.

Result: KDS, PPBHCP, HLWE, and PCT showed direct, positive and significant association with TSI (β = 0.41, p<0.001, β = 0.08, p<0.002, β = 0.18, p<0.001, and β = 0.06, p<0.002, respectively). SES was not directly associated with TSI. However, it indirectly influenced TSI through three pathways; KDS, number of ANC attendance and HLWE (β = 0.05, p<0.05, β = 0.08, p<0.001 and β = 0.13, p<0.001, respectively). Number of antenatal care was not directly associated with TSI. But indirectly, it affected TSI through its direct effect on KDS and PPBHCP (β = 0.05, p<0.05, β = 0.14, p<0.001, respectively). PPBHCP and HLWE also showed indirect association with TSI through their direct effect on KDS (β = 0.37, p<0.001, β = 0.36, p<0.001, respectively). All in all, the model fitted the sample data and explained 31% of the variance in TSI.

Conclusion: PPBHCP, HLWE, PCT and KDS were associated with mothers' TSI for newborn danger signs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethiopia / epidemiology
Female
Health Services Accessibility*
Humans
Infant
Infant Mortality*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Newborn, Diseases* / mortality
Infant, Newborn, Diseases* / therapy

Grants and funding

This is part of a Ph.D. study manuscript supported by the university of Gondar Projects. the University is following whether findings are presented and published. The university has no role in the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the data and in writing the manuscript. All the statements and findings are the responsibility of the investigators.