Local perceptions, cultural beliefs and practices that shape umbilical
cord care: A Qualitative Study in Southern Province, Zambia2013 | Volume 8 | Issue 11 | e79191.
The results of our univariate analysis suggest that neonatal survival is enhanced by antenatal care, delivery in health facilities, good
cord care, delivery assisted by trained health personnel and maternal immunization with at least 2 doses of TT during pregnancy.
In some health facilities such as Lunakwe Dispensary, Cheptais sub-county Hospital in Mount Elgon constituency and Chwele sub-county Hospital in Kabuchai sub-county that DN2 had an opportunity to visit in Bungoma, many had not had CHX in their stock for some time.Additionally, interviews with mothers attending postnatal clinics in the health facilities whose aim was to find out how well they understood umbilical
cord care cast a shadow of doubt on the level of awareness being created by healthcare providers as many lacked this crucial knowledge.
Another mother on being asked about the
cord care regime she adopted quoted, "Mustard oil is very effective.
Cord Care. Among mothers interviewed, 339 (66.2%) correctly stated that the stump should be uncovered.
The authors did not find any position statements of the international professional organizations regarding the umbilical
cord care, however, some Slovenian neonatologists still recommend antiseptic prophylaxis of the umbilical cord stump (23) and application of 6% potassium permanganate is prescribed in the national guidelines for umbilical
cord care in the delivery roo[m.sup.2] (9).
We recommended handwashing after respiratory secretion contact, before umbilical
cord care, before breastfeeding, after fecal contact, and before food preparation.
Neonatal tetanus is a highly fatal, vaccine preventable disease resulting in a significant morbidity and mortality among new born in the developing world.1NNT is a bacterial infection that results when the umbilical cord is contaminated with the spores of clostridium tetani due to unhygienic measures taken during the delivery or poor
cord care practices soon after the baby is born.2 Globally, NNT accounts for almost 7% of the deaths among children during the first four weeks of their lives.3NNT is a highly underreported disease and a large portion of the cases remain hidden from the recognition as it is estimated that only 5% of cases with NNT are actually reported to the health facilities.4
in environments with high neonatal mortality rates (>30 deaths per 1000 live births)." (3) Given the high rates of facility-based delivery and the low neonatal mortality rates found in the two African studies, the comment's authors recommend that no changes be made to the current WHO guidelines for
cord care.
Conclusions: Topical application of breast milk on umbilical
cord care leads to quick cord separation time and can be used as easy, cheep, non injury methods for umbilical
cord care.
The skin and umbilicus was nidus, and source of infection for the sepsis probably was because of unhygienic umbilical
cord care, application of different unclean substances, and branding.
Recent trials of home or clinic-based antibiotic treatment for neonatal infections in areas of high neonatal mortality where hospital referral was not feasible have shown significant reduction in neonatal mortality when antibiotic therapy has been delivered at home or PHCs located close to home.12,13 The antibiotics that have been successfully used for community-based treatment of neonatal infections (sepsis and pneumonia) include oral cotrimaxazole, penicillin or cephalexin, usually in combination with IM aminoglycosides.12,14 Although many trials have been conducted for determining the best
cord care practices for prevention of omphalitis, but there are limited data on effective management of omphalitis.4,15