Essential Newborn Care

Immediate drying (95.4%) and delayed bathing (87.3%) were the most widely practiced ENC components, while skin-to-skin contact was the lowest at 53.6%. In this study, ENC practice was defined as reporting at least four of five measured WHO-recommended components. Only 32.1% of Ethiopian mothers in the study reported practicing ENC (at least four of five components), indicating low overall coverage. After multivariable adjustment, maternal education, age, marital status, family size, wealth quintile, food insecurity, antenatal care attendance, rural residence, and poverty status were not significantly associated with ENC practice. Lower coverage of skin-to-skin contact and clean cord care reflects quality-of-care and counselling gaps that could be addressed through better provider adherence and clinical protocols without major new resources. The ENC package includes immediate drying, skin-to-skin contact, early initiation of breastfeeding, clean cord care, delayed bathing, and newborn weighing. Essential newborn care is a WHO-recommended package intended to improve newborn survival and well-being during the first hours and days of life, when newborns are most vulnerable.