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

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to study umbilical care practices and risks in Parakou (North Benin). Patients and method: It was a cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out within a community from June 1 to August 31, 2013. It focused on all the infants born at the maternity of Parakou Health Center and their mothers. Results: Two hundred and ten newborns were included i.e. 101 boys and 109 girls. In 80.9% of cases, inappropriate substances had been applied to umbilical cord. Umbilical cord care quality was adjudged as poor, acceptable and good in 58.6%, 31.9% and 9.5% of cases respectively. A bacterial umbilical infection had been noted in 59.5% of newborns. Only 4.8% had sterile umbilical wound. The commonest bacteria were: Staphylococcus aureus (58.1%), Staphylococcus saprophiticus (53.3%), Escherichia coli (44.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.3%). The factors associated with umbilical infection were: low educational status of mother (p = 0.026), low-income occupation of mother (p = 0.021), customary practices to accelerate umbilical cord fall off (p = 0.007), short time to cord falling off lower than 6 days (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Umbilical cord care involves high risk for bacterial infection in our context. Strong actions must be taken within the community in order to reduce that risk.

Neonatal Infection in the University Teaching Hospital of Parakou/Benin: Trends in Frequency and Lethality from 2010 To 2016

“…The traditional practices related to infant health care associated with poor standards of hygiene, increase the risk for umbilical cord infection and even the risk of neonatal tetanus. Agossou et al made those same observations regarding umbilical care for newborns in a community-based study conducted in Parakou in 2013 [14]. The same remark was made by Amorissani et al who showed that neonatal morbidity related to traditional care was dominated by umbilical infections in 65.20% of cases [10].…”

Association between umbilical cord hygiene and neonatal sepsis among neonates presenting to a primary care facility in Nairobi County, Kenya: a case-control study

“…Another study done in one public hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, supported this finding where 52% of mothers washed their hands under running water and 48% used water in basins 40 . Comparably, in Parakou, Benin, 73% of mothers expressed that they washed their hands prior to cord care provision 50 . Further, with regards to the washing substance in the current study, majority of mothers (44%) used water and soap.…”

“…Elsewhere, methylated spirit was the main cord care method in Ghana 48 and in Nigeria 41, 46,49 ; while use of brick ash was reportedly highly used in Zambia 22 . Findings from another study carried out in Benin reported that inappropriate/harmful substances were applied by 81% of caregivers 50 . In Ethiopia and Nigeria, dry cord care was widely exercised 51,52 .…”

“…This study results showed that 35.3% of caregivers failed to observe good cord hygiene. In North Benin, a study reported that, as per study's specifications of cord hygiene, 58.6% of mothers had practiced poor quality care, 31.9% had good quality care, with none of the mothers reaching excellent quality of cord care 50 .…”

Association between umbilical cord hygiene and neonatal sepsis among neonates presenting to a primary care facility in Nairobi County, Kenya: a case-control study

“…Elsewhere, methylated spirit was the main cord care method in Ghana 48 and in Nigeria 41, 46, 49 ; while use of brick ash was reportedly highly used in Zambia 22 . Findings from another study carried out in Benin reported that inappropriate/harmful substances were applied by 81% of caregivers 50 . In Ethiopia and Nigeria, dry cord care was widely exercised 51, 52 .…”