Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics (Jun 2022)
Umbilical Cord Care Practices and Associated Factor Among Mothers of Neonates Visiting Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital Southwest Ethiopia 2021
Abstract
Nigatu Dessalegn,1 Yalemtsehay Dagnaw,1 Kalid Seid,1 Asrat Wolde2 1Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan, Southwest Ethiopia People Regional State, Ethiopia; 2Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan, Southwest Ethiopia People Regional State, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Nigatu Dessalegn, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, PO Box 260, Mizan, Southwest Ethiopia People Regional State, Ethiopia, Tel +251-92-845-5726, Email [email protected]: 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
