Avoiding Neonatal Death: An Intervention Study of Umbilical Cord Care

Summary During a study of pregnancy in a poor rural tropical area, a high prevalence of neonatal fever and umbilical cord infection was detected. Interim analysis showed that this was associated with subsequent development of neonatal sepsis. Therefore an intervention was introduced in two stages. I...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) 1994-02, Vol.40 (1), p.24-28
Main Authors: Garner, Paul, Lai, Daina, Baea, Manasseh, Edwards, Keith, Heywood, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Body Temperature
Cohort Studies
Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation
Disorders
Female
Fever - diagnosis
Fever - etiology
Fever - mortality
Fever - prevention & control
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infection - diagnosis
Infection - etiology
Infection - mortality
Infection Control - methods
Medical sciences
New Guinea
Patient Compliance
Poverty
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies
Rural Population
Tropical medicine
Umbilical Cord
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Summary:Summary During a study of pregnancy in a poor rural tropical area, a high prevalence of neonatal fever and umbilical cord infection was detected. Interim analysis showed that this was associated with subsequent development of neonatal sepsis. Therefore an intervention was introduced in two stages. In the first stage, acriflavine spirit and new razor blades were supplied to mothers, along with instructions for use, through antenatal clinics. In the second stage, when excessive cord bleeding was reported, umbilical cord clamps were added to the pack. The packs were associated with reduction of serious morbidity in the neonatal period. The study demonstrates the importance of umbilical cord care in the aetiology of life threatening neonatal morbidity in village births in a developing country and the effect of a simple intervention in reducing morbid episodes in the neonate.
ISSN:0142-6338
1465-3664
DOI:10.1093/tropej/40.1.24