Cord care practices among mothers attending immunization clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.

Abstract

In developing countries, individual cases and epidemics of cord infections continue to occur, even in supposedly clean nurseries for newborns. The hazards of poor cord care are not limited to predisposition to infections. There is also the risk of bleeding from the cord which can be rapidly fatal. Empirical observation suggests that harmful traditional cord care practices abound in our community, thus placing newborn babies at risk of morbidity and mortality. In spite of this, there is paucity of data on cord care practices in developing countries 6 1 2,3 4,5 Abhulimhen-Iyoha BI Ofili A, Ibadin MO c l a m p (2 2. 7 %) t o s e c u r e haemostasis at the umbilical stump. Other materials used include suture materials, strips of cloth, bandage, plaster and rubber band. Majority of the mothers practiced hand washing before (86.9%) and after (89.3%) cord care. The traditional practices of cord care in Benin City include the use of hot compress (46.1%), menthol-containing balm, herbs, native chalk, petroleum jelly, palm oil, toothpaste (), salt, sand and saliva. The most common single agent for cord treatment was alcohol (methylated spirit). The attendant risks associated with harmful cord care practices remain real in our communities. There is need for education of the public, using the mass media and health talks in health facilities, to discourage harmful cord care practices while reinforcing beneficial ones. Umbilical cord, Care practices, Mothers, Benin City. Introduction Close-up Conclusion:

Newborn Umbilical Cord Care in Parakou in 2013: Practices and Risks

“…Another study carried out in Nigeria by Ambe et al on newborn umbilical cord care revealed that 64% of children's mothers did not attend school; this corresponded to the double of the proportion of unschooled mothers in our study [15]. As regards mothers' occupation, our findings are in consonance with those of Abhulimen-Iyoha et al who identified 38% of resellers, 26% of craft workers and 13.7% of housewives [11] [12]. Several research works performed in the sub-region by different authors on newborn traditional care practices disclosed that housewives were the most represented, thus disagreeing with our study findings [7] [14].…”

“…Our finding is similar to the one of Abhulimhen-Iyoha et al who studied practices of umbilical cord care in newborns in 2009 at the Benin City University teaching hospital [11] [12]. In contrast, male sex predominated in another study on newborn umbilical cord care carried out by Joel-Medewase et al in Osun State (South-west Nigeria) in 2008; sex ratio was 1.1 [13].…”

“…This lack of information from health workers and the non-existence at Parakou DHC of a mechanism dedicated to give mothers information on best practices of umbilical cord care may lead the latter to use customary practices. Abhulimhen-Iyoha et al reported a rate of good practices (20.5%) similar to ours [11] [12].…”

“…A study on newborn home care practices carried out by Darmstadt et al in 2007 [28] in a rural area of Egypt pointed out a proportion of mothers who use to wash hands before administering care to newborn lower than our (57%) [29]. The findings of the current study are lower than the ones of Abhulimhen-Iyoha et al who found out that 86.9% of mothers washed hands before umbilical cord care [11] [12]. It is important to note that in terms of umbilical cord care at birth in developing countries, no consensual guideline focused on factual basis has been developed by the World Health Organization.…”

A review of neonatal tetanus in University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, North-eastern Nigeria

“…Recently, the high-risk approach of conducting tetanus toxoid (TT) Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) targeting women of reproductive age was conducted in three states of the federation and selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 5 other states including Borno. Health education to modify harmful cultural practices that directly encourage the risk of acquisition of tetanus is also useful 910. Nigeria plans to achieve elimination in a phased manner by focusing on two zones (South-east and South-west) in 2013-2014 followed by the remaining four zones.…”