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Introduction of a non-traditional cord care practice in Haiti: Evaluation of a community-based campaign
background: A gap in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals’ health agenda for children includes interventions preventing neonatal mortality. Sepsis is the third leading cause of neonatal death worldwide. Bacterial infections in the umbilical cord (omphalitis) can lead to sepsis and neonatal death. Simple, affordable interventions may prevent such deaths. The WHO recommendation of chlorhexidine (4%) application to the newborn’s umbilical stump can decrease omphalitis and sepsis. Benefits of chlorhexidine use may be important in Haiti where neonatal mortality rate is 25.5 per 1000 live births and 63 % of deliveries occur at home. Neonates incur a higher risk for cord infection with home delivery. Cultural beliefs strongly influence newborn care including unhygienic and traditional cord care practices. Acceptability for introducing a new cord care practice in Petit-Goâve, Haiti was demonstrated.
methods: A controlled trial was used to determine differences in mother’s cord care practices between those instructed in chlorhexidine cord application prenatally and those who received no prenatal cord care instruction. A verbal questionnaire was given to consenting mothers at 1 and 4 weeks post-delivery. Descriptive statistics and unadjusted and adjusted analyses used to determine differences in mother’s cord care practices between intervention and control groups. [Data analysis to be completed 6/2015 n=200].
findings/recommendation: If a non-traditional cord care practice instructed to mothers by community health providers is successful, this culturally relevant strategy can be used for improving other aspects of newborn care globally.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsConduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related nursing
Learning Objectives:
Identify a leading cause of neonatal death worldwide.
Discuss the effectiveness of this non-traditional cord care community-based campaign.
Keyword(s): Child Health, Health Promotion and Education
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the PI on several community-base studies in Haiti. I have been providing primary health care in a community-based clinic in Haiti since 2006 and in the US for over 30 years with a concentration in infant and child care, working with vulnerable populations. I have been a speaker and author on topics related to global primary health care, recently focusing on Millennium Development Goals for reducing infant and child mortality.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.