Table 5.
Practice of umbilical cord care among young mothers of neonates (N = 315).
| Variable | Yes n (%) |
No n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning practice | ||
| Do you clean the umbilical cord? | 275 (87.3) | 40 (12.6) |
| How frequent do you clean the umbilical cord? (once per day) | 41 (13.0) | 274 (86.9) |
| Do you wash hands before and after cleaning of the umbilical cord? | 289 (91.7) | 26 (8.2) |
| Do you wash hands with water only? | 135 (42.9) | 180 (57.1) |
| Do you wash hands with water and soap? | 154 (48.9) | 161 (51.1) |
| How do you clean the cord? (cleaning the cord base first) | 151 (47.9) | 164 (52.0) |
| Do you apply anything to the cord? | 298 (94.6) | 17 (5.4) |
| What substances do you apply after cleaning the cord to facilitate healing? | ||
| Powder | 131 (43.9) | 167 (56.1) |
| Vaseline | 13 (4.4) | 285 (95.6) |
| Coconut oil | 85 (28.5) | 213 (71.5) |
| Methylated spirit with cotton wool | 4 (1.3) | 294 (98.6) |
| Herbs | 14 (4.7) | 284 (95.3) |
| Saliva | 8 (2.6) | 290 (97.3) |
| Nothing applied | 25 (8.4) | 273 (91.6) |
| Covering practice | ||
| Do you cover the cord stump? | 149 (47.3) | 166 (52.7) |
| What do you use to cover the cord stump? (a piece of clean cloth) | 135 (42.9) | 180 (57.1) |
| How do you fold the neonate napkin? (below cord) | 258 (81.9) | 57 (18.0) |
| How frequent do you change a neonate cloth? (3 times/d) | 210 (66.7) | 105 (33.3) |
| Do you bath a neonate before cord detachment? (yes) | 300 (95.2) | 15 (4.8) |
| How do you bath your neonate? (sponge bathing) | 140 (44.4) | 175 (55.5) |