Umbilical Cord Care Practices and Associated Factor Among Mothers of Neonates Visiting Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital Southwest Ethiopia 2021

Abstract

Background

Due to unsanitary cord care practices, cord infections are more common and prevalent in developing countries. In settings where mortality is low, dry and clean cord care is recommended for newborns delivered in health facilities or at home. Cord care practices would directly contribute to infection in newborns, accounting for a large proportion of millions of annual neonatal deaths. This study aimed to assess the cord care practices of mothers and to identify areas for intervention.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of neonates who gave birth in the last six months. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to include women who visited pediatric OPD and immunization clinics. Epi data version 3.1 was used to enter the data and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. The association between the outcome and independent variables was examined using binary logistic regression. The strength of the association was measured using odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p-value. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value <0.05.

Results

Four hundred twenty-two mothers were participated in the study. More than half (59.2%) of the respondents had good cord care practices, while nearly half (45.3%) mothers added nothing to the cord. Factors significantly associated with good cord care practices were educational status (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI = 1.34, 7.59), ANC follow-up (AOR = 3.58; 95% CI = 1.24, 10.32), initiation of breastfeeding (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.10, 2.77), and apply anything to the cord (AOR = 3.08; 95% CI = 1.92, 4.95).

Conclusion

The proportion of mothers with good cord care practices was inadequate. For such a high cause of neonatal death, prevention should be the priority intervention, and improving its implementation requires further effort.

Keywords:

• newborn
• cord care
• Mizan
• sepsis

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the mothers who participated in this study. We are thankful to those who allowed us to conduct this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no specific fund for this work.