Türkiye mothers’ newborn-screening knowledge linked to favourable combined scores

A cross-sectional study of 441 mothers receiving care in the postpartum unit of a maternity and children’s hospital in Türkiye found gaps in objective knowledge about newborn screening and an association between greater objective knowledge and more favourable scores on a combined knowledge-and-attitude scale. Researchers collected face-to-face interview data between June and October 2024, using a sociodemographic questionnaire, a researcher-developed Mothers’ Knowledge about Newborn Screenings Form, and the Mothers’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Newborn Screenings Scale. The results provide a snapshot of one hospital population, not a national assessment of Türkiye’s newborn-screening programme.

The participants’ mean score on the combined Mothers’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Newborn Screenings Scale was 14.88 ± 7.16. Their objective knowledge scores were negatively correlated with total scores on the combined scale (r = −0.316, p < 0.01). Because the scale was reverse-scored, the negative correlation indicates that higher objective knowledge was associated with more favourable combined knowledge-and-attitude scores.

The finding describes a statistical relationship in the surveyed group; it does not establish that objective knowledge causes attitudes, that the relationship is directional, or that the pattern applies to mothers elsewhere in Türkiye. The investigators used descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis to examine the questionnaire results and selected sociodemographic characteristics. The cross-sectional design limits what can be inferred from those comparisons.

The sample was recruited from a single maternity and children’s hospital, so its results may not represent other regions, facilities or groups of parents. Newborn screening is described in the research as a public-health strategy for the early detection of congenital and metabolic disorders, while parental awareness and participation can vary across populations. In the 441 mothers interviewed, the objective-knowledge measure indicated gaps in knowledge, and higher objective-knowledge scores were associated with more favourable results on the combined scale when its reverse scoring was taken into account.

The authors note that the findings indicate a need to strengthen mothers’ knowledge and suggest that nurses and midwives may support informed decision-making through clear, consistent education and counselling during prenatal and postnatal care. Those educational ideas remain implications for practice rather than tested interventions in this study. They also call for further research to determine whether educational strategies improve participation and trust.

The supported conclusion is therefore limited but clear: knowledge gaps were present among the surveyed postpartum mothers, and greater objective knowledge was associated with more favourable combined knowledge-and-attitude scores; causation, programme effects and national patterns were not established.

Subject of Research: Maternal knowledge and attitudes toward newborn screening in Türkiye

Article Title: Newborn screening in Türkiye: mothers’ knowledge and attitudes explored through a cross-sectional study

Article References: Erkin, Ö., Dur, Ş., Coşğun, M., & Gol, I. (2026). Newborn screening in Türkiye: mothers’ knowledge and attitudes explored through a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15373-6

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-15373-6

Keywords: newborn screening, maternal health, parental knowledge, health attitudes, Türkiye, cross-sectional study, public health, health education, postpartum care, Newborn, screening, rkiye