This study aimed to determine the gaps of knowledge and
practices of care of neonatal jaundice among Malaysian
mothers. It was a cross sectional study of 400 mothers who
attended the obstetric clinics or were admitted to the
obstetric wards of a general hospital. They were surveyed
with a structured set of questionnaire. The results showed
that a majority (93.8%) of them knew about neonatal
jaundice, and 71.7% knew that jaundice lasting more than 2
weeks was abnormal. However, only 34.3% of them were
aware that jaundice appearing during the first 36 hours of
life was abnormal. Less than 20% knew about glucose-6-
phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and that fetalmaternal
blood group differences could cause jaundice.
Although 71.7% and 69.7%, respectively, of the mothers
knew that severe jaundice could cause death and brain
damage, only 38.4% of them were aware that severe
jaundice could result in hearing impairment. A very low
proportion (27.1%) of them was aware that putting
jaundiced infants under the direct sun could result in
dehydration and worsening of jaundice. Out of a maximum
score of 15, the mean maternal knowledge score was 7.4
(95% confidence intervals: 7.1, 7.7). Majority (83.1%) of the
multiparous mothers with a past history of having children
developing neonatal jaundice (n=154) practiced placing their
infants under the direct sun. This study revealed that there
was a wide knowledge gap among Malaysian mothers on
care of neonatal jaundice. Placing infants under the direct
sun was still a common practice.
KEY WORDS:
Maternal knowledge, Neonatal jaundice, Sunning