Percepción de las madres ante signos de peligro en el lactante menor.

Abstract

The infant stage is critical for child survival. Early detection of danger signs by mothers is essential to prevent serious complications and reduce neonatal mortality. Objective: To determine mothers' perceptions and practices regarding warning signs in infants by implementing educational strategies that contribute to improving mothers' ability to respond promptly to risk conditions in their children. Methodology: Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted in a health center with 135 mothers in person, selected by random sampling. A validated questionnaire based on the MSP's Comprehensive Child Care Manual (2018) was administered and analyzed with SPSS v27. Results: Regarding mothers' perception and knowledge of warning signs, 74.1% of pregnant women correctly identified warning signs such as persistent vomiting (85.2%), respiratory distress (70.4%), and seizures (59.3%). Conclusion: The study achieved its objective by demonstrating that nursing education strategies are effective in improving mothers' responsiveness to warning signs in infants. Although mothers had basic knowledge, there were significant gaps that were reduced through educational interventions, confirming that continuing education empowers mothers to recognize danger signs early and make timely decisions, thereby contributing to reducing infant morbidity and mortality.