Neonatology•

Attitudes of mothers attending public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to neonatal sunlight exposure: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Sunlight exposure helps the body produce vitamin D, prevents rickets and is used for neonatal jaundice treatment. Good neonatal sunlight exposure is exposing the neonate to sunlight in the morning, 8:00 to 10:00, for 30 to 60 min. However, little is known about the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the practices and factors associated with neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers attending public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 mothers attending public hospitals in Addis Ababa. Study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. The collected data were entered into Epi-data V.4.6 and exported to SPSS V.26 for analysis. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results The practice of neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers was 27.1%. Neonatal age of 16–28 days (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.99, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.44), family members of 4–6 (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.21) and ≥7 (aOR 4.43, 95% CI 1.54 to 12.78), living in compound/villa houses (aOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.26 to 5.33), complete antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (aOR 2.79, 95% CI 1.49 to 5.22), delivery at term (aOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.06 to 6.07), poor knowledge of sunlight exposure (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.71) and no fear of sunlight exposure (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.12) were factors associated with the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

Conclusion This study revealed that 27.1% of mothers had good sunlight exposure. Advanced neonatal age, larger family, living in compound/villa houses, complete ANC visits and term delivery were associated with good practices, whereas poor knowledge and fear of sunlight exposure were associated with poor practices. Therefore, interventions focusing on these findings are required to improve the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

What is already known on this topic

  • Sunlight exposure has many health benefits for newborns and infants.

  • Adequate exposure of the neonate to sunshine requires exposure of the neonate to sunlight in the morning, 8:00–10:00, for 30–60 min.

  • Inadequate exposure of neonates to sunshine leads to vitamin D deficiency and jaundice, which are common health problems worldwide.

What this study adds

  • Advanced neonatal age, higher family size, living in compound/villa houses, complete antenatal care (ANC) visits and term delivery were associated with good practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

  • Poor knowledge of and fear for sunlight exposure are associated with poor neonatal sunlight exposure.

How this study might affect research, practice, or policy

  • Interventions focused on mothers’ knowledge of sunlight exposure (fear of sunlight, neonatal age and ANC follow-up) are required to improve the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

Introduction

Sunlight exposure has many health benefits for newborns and infants. It helps the body produce vitamin D, preventing rickets in children, and is used to treat neonatal jaundice during the neonatal period.1–3 Vitamin D everyday requirements can be obtained by 30 to 60 min of exposure to sunlight in the morning.4 Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone metabolism through regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis.1 Exposure of neonatal skin to sunlight in the morning is significant to producing nocturnal melatonin sooner, which helps them sleep better.5 Morning sunlight exposure supports the neonatal physiological system to break down indirect bilirubin.3

Timely and proper practice of neonatal sunlight exposure by mothers has many health benefits for neonates. The inadequate practice of exposure of neonates to sunshine by mothers leads to vitamin D deficiency, and jaundice is a common health problem in many developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia.6 7

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation weakens the immune system. Skin dendritic cells are damaged by UV-B rays, which also cause regulatory T cells to generate the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10.8 Pyrimidine dimerisation and DNA strand breaks are induced by UV light. Additional effects of UV radiation include externalisation of nuclear antigens on cell surfaces and production of neoantigens, which can exacerbate autoimmune illnesses such as lupus. Another problem associated with chronic UV radiation exposure is photoaging. Numerous epidemiological research showed that sunlight exposure is one of the primary risk factors for the development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.9 10 This risk is greatest in the white population, indicating that melanin has a protective effect.11 It has also been discovered that exposure to UV rays during childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer compared with exposure later in life.12

In Middle East Asia, such as the northern parts of China, Mongolia and Afghanistan, mothers’ practice of sunlight exposure for neonates is poor. As a result, most neonates develop vitamin D deficiency and rickets.6 13 In Ethiopia, shortage of exposure to sunlight and inadequate vitamin D consumption are the main causes of rickets among children. According to a study conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 41% of children under 3 years of age had vitamin D deficiency rickets, and the incidence was higher among infants.14 A study conducted in Jimma, Ethiopia, showed that 10.5% of children under 5 years of age had rickets, with the main identified causes being lack of exposure to sunlight and inadequate intake of vitamin D, and the highest rate (11%) occurred in infants.15–17

Although daily sunlight exposure remains the cheapest, safest and most effective method of prevention of rickets, significant numbers of children are not properly exposed to sunlight. According to recent studies in Ethiopia among mothers, 55.4% in Debre Markos town, 52% in the South Gondar zone and 34.3% in Debre Berhan town had poor practice of exposing neonates to sunlight.18–20 Numerous factors may be associated with the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers. These factors include sociodemographic factors such as age, marital status, educational status, occupation of mother, neonatal age, family size, place of residence, type of housing, educational status of the husband, household monthly income,18–24 maternal and neonatal-related factors such as antenatal care (ANC) follow-up, place of delivery, gestational age, birth weight, mother’s knowledge13 16 17 21 23 25 and fear of sunlight exposure.16 18 19 21 26 However, little is known about the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the practices and factors associated with neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers visiting public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020.

Methods

Study area, design and population

This institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 18 March to 30 April 2020, in three public hospitals in Addis Ababa town, Ethiopia: Gandhi Memorial Hospital (GMH), Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) and Yekatit 12 Hospital (Y12H). All mothers with neonates and those attending follow-up and immunisation clinics were included, except those who had neonates above 1 month of age and were unable to communicate during the study period.

Sample size determination and sampling procedure

The single population proportion formula was used to calculate the sample size based on the following assumptions: the prevalence of mothers' practice of neonatal sunlight exposure was 45.7%, as done in South Gondar zone, Ethiopia,19 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. The final sample size, including the non-response rate, included 420 mothers. Three hospitals were selected using the lottery method. According to recent monthly data from the three hospitals, a total of 1621 mothers with neonates attended follow-up and immunisation clinics, and this was taken as a sampling frame. The total sample size for each hospital was allocated proportionally based on the sampling frame (GMH, N=650; TASH, N=536; Y12H, N=435). Therefore, 168 mothers from GMH, 139 mothers from TASH and 113 mothers from Y12H were selected using systematic random sampling at k=3 intervals.

Study variables

The study variable was sunlight exposure practice, and the independent variables included sociodemographic factors such as age, marital status, educational status, occupation of the mother, neonatal age, family size (number of individuals in the family), place of residence, type of housing, household income, maternal and neonatal-related factors such as ANC follow-up, place of delivery, gestational age, birth weight, mothers’ knowledge and fear of sunlight exposure.

Data collection tool and procedure

Data were collected using the Amharic version of an adapted questionnaire with face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire was first written in English, translated into Amharic versions, and re-translated into English by language experts to ensure consistency. The data collection tool was adapted after an extensive review of the literature on this area.16 18 19 21 22 27 The sociodemographic and maternal and neonatal factors of the mothers were documented using 14 items. Mothers’ knowledge of sunlight exposure was measured using seven items. Participants who scored above the median value on the mother’s knowledge of the sunlight exposure tool were categorised as having good knowledge. Neonatal sunlight exposure was measured using 10 self-reported items. Participants who responded correctly to all practice questions on the practice questionnaire were considered as having good practice and those who had scored less than or equal to 9 were considered as having poor practice.

The questionnaire was administered to experts to check content validity and accuracy. Data were collected by four trained nurses from other health facility units. Moreover, the completeness of the questionnaire and quality of data collection were checked daily by supervisors, and detailed feedback was provided to the data collectors.

Data processing and analysis

The data were checked, coded and entered into Epi-Data V.4.6 and exported to SPSS V.26 software for analysis. Descriptive data were reported as frequencies and percentages. A bivariate logistic regression analysis model was used to identify factors associated with neonatal sunlight exposure. Variables with a p value <0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression were entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the association between the independent variables and neonatal sunlight exposure. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the statistical significance of associations between independent variables and the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure was determined using ORs with a 95% CI and p values <0.05.

Patient and public involvement

Patients and the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination plan of this study.

Results

Sociodemographic characteristics of participants

A total of 420 mothers participated in the study, with a 100% response rate. The mean age of the participants was 28.8±5.61 years. Most participants were married (n=398, 94.8%) and residing in urban areas (n=398, 94.8%). More than half of them, 225 (53.6%) were housewives, and 267 (63.6%) had secondary or above educational status. Half of the participants, 210 (50%), had family members of 4–6 and 334 (79.5%) were living in a compound/villa house. The majority of husbands of participants, 304 (72.4%), had secondary or higher educational status (table 1).

Table 1
|
Sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants (n=420)

Maternal and neonatal-related factors of participants

Most of the participants, 410 (97.6%), had ANC follow-up, and three-fourths of the participants, 306 (72.9%), delivered their neonates in hospitals. More than two-thirds of neonates, 287 (68.3%), were at term (37–42 weeks) gestational ages, and the majority of neonates, 301 (71.7%), had a birth weight of ≥2.5 kg at the time of delivery (table 2).

Table 2
|
Maternal and neonatal-related factors of the study participants (n=420)

Participants’ knowledge, fear and practice of neonatal sunlight exposure

Most participants (388 (92.4%)) had information about neonatal sunlight exposure. The majority of the participants, 258 (66.5%), heard about the sunlight exposure of neonates from midwives/nurses. Most participants (380 (97.9%)) knew the benefits of neonatal sunlight exposure. The majority of the participants identified vitamin D (n=235, 67.1%). Of the participants, 365 (94.1%) reported good time to expose neonates in the morning. More than half of the participants (245 (58.3%)) feared exposing their neonates to sunlight. Of the total participants, 181 (43.1%) had good knowledge and 114 (27.1%) practised good neonatal sunlight exposure (table 3).

Table 3
|
Knowledge, fear and practice of neonatal sunlight exposure of the study participants (n=420)

Factors associated with the participants' practice of neonatal sunlight exposure

In univariate logistic regression, neonatal age, educational status, occupation and marital status of the mother, family size, type of housing, educational status of the husband, ANC follow-up, gestational age, birth weight, mother’s knowledge and fear of sunlight exposure were significantly associated with practice. However, in the multiple logistic regression analysis, neonatal age, family size, type of housing, ANC follow-up, gestational age, mothers’ knowledge and fear of sunlight exposure had a statistically significant association with practice.

Mothers who had neonates aged 16–28 days (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.99, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.44) were two times more likely to have good practice than mothers who had neonates aged <15 days. Mothers who had a family of 4–6 members (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.21) and greater than or equal to 7 (aOR 4.43, 95% CI 11.54 to 12.78) were 1.86 and 4.43 times more likely to have good practices, respectively, compared with those who had family members of 1–3. Mothers who lived in compound/villa houses (aOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.26 to 5.33) were 2.6 times more likely to have good practices than those who lived in condominiums/apartment houses.

Mothers who had complete ANC follow-up (≥4 times) (aOR 2.79, 95% CI 1.49 to 5.22) were 2.79 times more likely to have good practice compared with those who had incomplete ANC follow-up. Mothers who delivered at term (aOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.06 to 6.07) were 2.54 times more likely to have good practice compared with those who delivered before term. Mothers who had good knowledge of sunlight exposure were 40% more likely to have good practices compared with their counterparts (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.71). Mothers who did not have fear of sunlight exposure (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.12) were 1.83 times more likely to have good practice than those who had fear of sunlight exposure in their neonates (table 4).

Table 4
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Factors associated with the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure of the study participants (n=420)

Discussion

This study explored the practices and factors associated with neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers attending governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and found that 27.1% of mothers practised good neonatal sunlight exposure. The findings of this study were lower than those of studies conducted in Ethiopia in the South Gondar zone (54.3%),19 Debre Markos town (44.6%),18 Debre Berhan town (34.3%)20 and Aleta Wondo town (32.6%).21 The possible reason might be due to differences in housing type, family size and mothers' fear of sunlight exposure. In this study, the majority of mothers were living in condominiums/apartments, had low family sizes and had a fear of sunlight exposure to their neonates. In addition, a possible reason might be the cut-off point of the tool used to measure mothers’ practice of neonatal sunlight exposure. The other studies used the median value as the cut-off point, and the participants who responded correctly above the median value were classified as having good practice, but in this study, participants who responded correctly to all practice questions were classified as having good practice.

This study found that neonatal age, family size, type of housing, ANC follow-up, gestational age, mothers’ knowledge and fear of sunlight exposure were associated with mothers’ practice. This study revealed that mothers who had neonates of advanced age (16–28 days) had good practices compared with those who had neonates of an earlier age (≤15 days). This finding was different from those of studies conducted in Debre Markos town, Aleta Wondo town and the South Gondar zone.18 19 21 This discrepancy might be due to differences in cultural beliefs, in which mothers fear exposure to neonates aged less than 15 days for different reasons, such as evil eye, cold and other cultural reasons. Therefore, mothers who have a neonatal age of ≤15 days require special care when designing interventions aimed at increasing their practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

This study shows that mothers who had higher family sizes had better practices than those who had lower family sizes. This finding is consistent with other studies conducted in Ethiopia.18 19 The scientific explanation might be due to mothers who had low family sizes, especially primipara mothers' lack of experience in the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure. Thus, mothers with smaller family sizes may require educational provision during follow-up to improve their practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

Our study shows that mothers who lived in compound/villa houses had better practices compared with those who lived in condominiums/apartment houses. This might be related to the fact that condominiums/apartment houses are very crowded with many populations and do not have lifts and fences, and mothers might fear evil eye and fall accidents. This study showed that mothers who had complete ANC follow-up (≥4 times) had good practice compared with mothers who had lower ANC follow-up. This might be because when ANC visits are regular and complete, the mother has adequate knowledge and practices of neonatal sunlight exposure. Therefore, encouraging mothers to have regular and complete ANC follow-ups is important to improve their practices of neonatal sunlight exposure.

This study also shows that mothers who delivered at term had good practice compared with mothers who delivered before term. The scientific explanation for this might be that sunlight exposure to premature and low-birthweight neonates is controversial, and most preterm babies stay at the hospital for the treatment of different preterm complications. In this study, knowledge was another modifiable factor associated with the mothers’ practice of neonatal sunlight exposure. Mothers who had poor knowledge about neonatal sunlight exposure had poorer practice than those who had good knowledge. This finding was similar to those of other studies conducted in Ethiopia.16 21 This might be related to the fact that mothers who know well and practise neonatal sunlight exposure may perform more practice than mothers who do not know. Future studies are required to identify the effects of knowledge on neonatal sunlight exposure among mothers.

In this study, we found that mothers who did not fear exposing their neonates practised better than those who had feared. This finding is consistent with other studies conducted in Ethiopia.16 18 19 The mothers’ fear of sunlight exposure to the neonates might be related to their poor knowledge about sunlight exposure, as the majority of the participants in this study had poor knowledge about sunlight exposure. Knowledge is very important for the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure, as it decreases the fear of neonatal exposure to sunlight. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on those mothers when preparing educational interventions during follow-up to improve the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure by increasing knowledge about neonatal sunlight exposure.

Conclusion

This study revealed that 27.1% of mothers had good sunlight exposure. Advanced neonatal age, having a higher family size, living in compound/villa houses, having complete ANC visits and having term delivery were associated with good sunlight exposure practice, whereas poor knowledge and fear of sunlight exposure were associated with poor sunlight exposure practice. Therefore, interventions focusing on these findings are required to improve the practice of neonatal sunlight exposure.

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