Exploring Postnatal Women’s Perception of Neonatal Cord Care and Chlorhexidine Gel Use at Mother and Child Hospital–Kasoa
Jameela Aba Ibrahim, Sanjay Shinde, Comfort Kafui Affram, Rajesh Kumar SharmaAbstract
Background:
Women and healthcare professionals are advised by the World Health Organization to practice proper cord care. Chlorhexidine has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in reducing the incidence of neonatal cord sepsis by up to 40% in resource-limited settings. Although chlorhexidine gel cord care is effective, some postpartum mothers from different cultural backgrounds continue to practice poor cord care, which may increase neonatal mortality rates. This highlights the importance of improving infant healthcare outcomes within the community.
Materials and Methods:
The purpose of the study was to investigate postpartum women’s attitudes regarding newborn cord care and the use of chlorhexidine gel at Mother and Child Hospital–Kasoa. An exploratory descriptive study design was adopted, and a purposive sampling technique was used to select participants. The sample size for the study was 19 as data saturation was achieved during the data collection process. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide, and thematic analysis was employed to analyze the findings.
Results:
The results of the study indicated that mothers had a moderate level of knowledge regarding umbilical cord care. The study also identified infection prevention as the major benefit of using chlorhexidine gel for umbilical cord care. Furthermore, the findings revealed that personal and sociocultural beliefs may act as barriers to the utilization of chlorhexidine gel among postnatal women.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that although women are aware of the benefits of chlorhexidine gel in preventing infections and possess moderate knowledge regarding umbilical cord care, social norms and personal beliefs hinder its regular use. These barriers contribute to inadequate cord care practices, which may increase health risks among newborns. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen community-based education and implement culturally appropriate interventions to improve mothers’ understanding, dispel misconceptions, and promote the effective use of chlorhexidine gel for safer neonatal outcomes.