Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge of Early Essential Newborn Care in Saudi Arabia: A Cross–Sectional Descriptive Study
Ali Ahmad Al-Shraifeen, Maisa Usman Adam, Ahmad Ismail, Dena Attallah, Minerva Raguini, Grace Castro, Niela Sacro RosalesIntroduction
The use of the World Health Organization’s Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) guidelines may reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. The knowledge of EENC among healthcare professionals is closely tied to their clinical practice. However, there is a lack of research assessing the knowledge of healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia.
Objective
To assess the level of knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding EENC in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed with a convenience sample of 123 healthcare professionals working in six units that provide care for neonates at a private hospital in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire that was administered online. Data were analyzed for frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to find differences in knowledge across demographic characteristics. The significance level was set at < 0.05.
Results
The mean knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding EENC was 59% ± 10%. Professionals working in the nursery had higher knowledge of EENC compared to other departments (
Conclusion
The overall knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding EENC was low. These results highlight the need for targeted, department-specific educational interventions to strengthen EENC knowledge and improve the overall quality of neonatal care.