Practices of essential newborn care and associated factors among final year nursing and midwifery students in Lira city, a cross-sectional study.

Background: Neonatal mortality is a significant public health issue since 7,000 infants perish daily from avoidable causes. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 38 newborns die before their first month of life. Essential newborn care (ENC) seeks to lower this mortality in wealthy and developing nations. This study aimed to evaluate the practice of ENC and associated factors among Lira City's final-year nursing and midwifery students. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was employed involving 275 final year student nurses and midwives. Institutions and participants were randomly sampled, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the practice of Essential Newborn Care. Results: The study involved more females, 57.1%, than males, 42.9%, % majority of whom were 22-26 years, and (80.0%) of the participants were single. Findings revealed that Education Students at certificate and Diploma levels were 31.289 [AOR= 31.289; P= 0.001; 95%CI; 4.262- 259.986] and 217.929[AOR= 217.929; P< 0.001; 95%CI; 19.312-2459.259] times respectively, more likely to have good practice than those at Bachelor's. Married students were 0.186 [Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR) = 0.186; P= 0.007; 95%CI; 0.055-0.625] times less likely to have good practice than those who were single. Additionally, students taught from lecture rooms were 0.200 [AOR= 0.200; P= 0.010; 95%CI; 0.059-0.680] times less likely to have good practice than those who were taught from the ward. Students who had continued support supervision were 0.368 [AOR= 0.368; P= 0.044; 95%CI; 0.630-2.217] times less likely to have good practice than those who did not have continued support supervision. Conclusion: There was generally good practice of Essential Newborn Care. The education level of the students highly determined their practice of ENC. Recommendation: Implement continued support supervision to ensure good practices on essential newborn Care.