Knowledge of Mothers on Multisensory Intervention for Preterm Babies: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study from Mangaluru, India

Introduction: Multisensory intervention for preterm babies is developmentally appropriate and has the capacity to integrate information from different senses -Auditory, Tactile, Visual, and Vestibular (ATVV). Involving mothers in the intervention may help mimic the preterm babies' intrauterine environment. Mothers need to be systematically and effectively guided through the ATVV intervention. Before implementing the practice, it is important to ensure that mothers are sensitised with the necessary knowledge about multisensory intervention. Hence, assessing mothers' knowledge of multisensory intervention is a significant step preceding any intervention. Aim: To assess the knowledge of multisensory intervention among mothers of preterm babies with the intention of preparing an educational package on multisensory intervention. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of preterm babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a selected hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. A total of 97 mothers were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data on mothers' knowledge were gathered using a proforma on baseline characteristics and a structured knowledge questionnaire on multisensory intervention for preterm babies. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall knowledge scores of mothers on multisensory intervention showed a mean +/- SD of 7.42 +/- 2.06 with a mean percentage of 24.74%. Most mothers, 91 (93.8%), had inadequate knowledge, and 6 (6.2%) had moderate knowledge. The area -wise knowledge score of mothers revealed that in the concept of multisensory intervention, the mean +/- SD was 1.93 +/- 0.89 with a mean percentage of 38.56%. In the components of multisensory intervention, the mean +/- SD was 2.20 +/- 1.18 with a mean percentage of 24.40%. In understanding preterm babies' behaviour, the mean +/- SD was 2.67 +/- 1.15 with a mean percentage of 29.67%. In aspects of practice in multisensory intervention, the mean +/- SD was 0.63 +/- 0.69 with a mean percentage of 8.98%. This indicates that most mothers had inadequate knowledge in the areas of multisensory intervention. A significant association between knowledge scores and the sex of the preterm babies was found (p-value=0.03). Conclusion: Most mothers had inadequate knowledge on multisensory intervention. Consequently, an educational package was developed, which included a video on multisensory intervention for preterm neonates and a handout to help mothers acquire knowledge and guide their practice.