Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region
Background Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders much of the global burden of neonatal mortality. Quality postnatal care is often lacking due to availability, accessibility, mistrust of health systems, and socio-economic barriers, yet delays in care-seeking contribute to avoidable neonatal deaths. Research h...
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| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2450137 |
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| author | Sarah Farrell Tracey A. Mills Dame Tina Lavender |
| author_facet | Sarah Farrell Tracey A. Mills Dame Tina Lavender |
| author_sort | Sarah Farrell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders much of the global burden of neonatal mortality. Quality postnatal care is often lacking due to availability, accessibility, mistrust of health systems, and socio-economic barriers, yet delays in care-seeking contribute to avoidable neonatal deaths. Research highlights the urgent need for improved health education about neonatal illness; however, contextual factors are rarely considered, and few interventions have been implemented. Objectives To critically examine the literature on parents’ knowledge of neonatal illness and care-seeking behaviour and evaluate interventions supporting parental understanding in sub-Saharan African Great Lakes countries. Methods Systematic searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Global Health, the Cochrane Library, and thesis repositories. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were critically analysed using Whittemore and Knafl’s framework, and quality was assessed with Hawker et al.’s tool, following PRISMA guidelines. Results Seventy studies (48 quantitative, 14 qualitative, eight mixed methods) were reviewed. The first theme, “poor knowledge of neonatal illness”, showed parents struggled to recognise illness, with knowledge affected by maternity and socio-economic factors. The second theme, “sub-optimal healthcare-seeking behaviour”, highlighted delayed care-seeking due to cultural, social, and economic factors. Finally, “strategies to support parents’ understanding” emphasised the roles of community workers, health education phone calls, SMS, and videos, and neonatal monitoring systems. Conclusions Parental knowledge of neonatal illness is generally low, and care-seeking is influenced by beliefs, trust in healthcare, and logistical challenges. While community health workers and multi-media interventions appear effective, health education efforts must address contextual barriers and beliefs to improve recognition and care-seeking for neonatal illness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a95aa5e4a1347b0a2465c13af531836 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a95aa5e4a1347b0a2465c13af5318362025-02-05T12:46:15ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802025-12-0118110.1080/16549716.2025.24501372450137Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes regionSarah Farrell0Tracey A. Mills1Dame Tina Lavender2Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineBackground Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders much of the global burden of neonatal mortality. Quality postnatal care is often lacking due to availability, accessibility, mistrust of health systems, and socio-economic barriers, yet delays in care-seeking contribute to avoidable neonatal deaths. Research highlights the urgent need for improved health education about neonatal illness; however, contextual factors are rarely considered, and few interventions have been implemented. Objectives To critically examine the literature on parents’ knowledge of neonatal illness and care-seeking behaviour and evaluate interventions supporting parental understanding in sub-Saharan African Great Lakes countries. Methods Systematic searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Global Health, the Cochrane Library, and thesis repositories. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were critically analysed using Whittemore and Knafl’s framework, and quality was assessed with Hawker et al.’s tool, following PRISMA guidelines. Results Seventy studies (48 quantitative, 14 qualitative, eight mixed methods) were reviewed. The first theme, “poor knowledge of neonatal illness”, showed parents struggled to recognise illness, with knowledge affected by maternity and socio-economic factors. The second theme, “sub-optimal healthcare-seeking behaviour”, highlighted delayed care-seeking due to cultural, social, and economic factors. Finally, “strategies to support parents’ understanding” emphasised the roles of community workers, health education phone calls, SMS, and videos, and neonatal monitoring systems. Conclusions Parental knowledge of neonatal illness is generally low, and care-seeking is influenced by beliefs, trust in healthcare, and logistical challenges. While community health workers and multi-media interventions appear effective, health education efforts must address contextual barriers and beliefs to improve recognition and care-seeking for neonatal illness.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2450137neonatal danger signsneonatal illnessmidwiferyintegrative reviewsub-saharan africacare-seeking |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Farrell Tracey A. Mills Dame Tina Lavender Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region Global Health Action neonatal danger signs neonatal illness midwifery integrative review sub-saharan africa care-seeking |
| title | Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region |
| title_full | Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region |
| title_fullStr | Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region |
| title_short | Exploring parental knowledge, care-seeking, and support strategies for neonatal illness: an integrative review of the African Great Lakes region |
| title_sort | exploring parental knowledge care seeking and support strategies for neonatal illness an integrative review of the african great lakes region |
| topic | neonatal danger signs neonatal illness midwifery integrative review sub-saharan africa care-seeking |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2450137 |
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