Practicing Level and Determinants of Safe Cord Care and Skin-To-Skin Contact Among Post-partum Women in Public Hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundEven though practicing levels of safe cord care and skin-to-skin contact among post-partum women are critical to reducing neonatal deaths, limited data revealed the low practice. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the level of practice and determinants of safe cord care and skin-to-skin contact among post-partum women in public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the public hospitals of Harari reginal state, eastern Ethiopia. A random sample of 820 post-partum women was included in the study. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data through a face-to-face interview. STATA version 14 was used for data analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the association between independent and outcome variables.ResultsThe practicing level of safe cord care was 71.7% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 64.5, 81.7). While the practicing level of Skin-To-Skin contact was 53.2% (95% CI: 43.6, 58.8). Being in age of 20–29 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.24, 6.96], attending tertiary education [AOR = 1.83, 95% CI (1.08, 3.13)], and having good knowledge about safe cord care [AOR = 11.3, 95% CI: (7.49, 17.18)] were determinants of safe cord care practice. While mothers aged 20–29, 30–39, and above 40 [(AOR = 11.17, 95% CI: 4.71, 26.5; AOR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.77, 9.55, and AOR = 14.3, 95% CI: 7.2, 28.6), respectively], Being married [AOR = 3.70, 95% CI (1.58, 8.70)], being a merchant and self-employed ([AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34,0.87] and [AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.86], respectively), having good knowledge about SSC [AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: (1.53, 2.92)], giving birth at gestational age of 37–42 weeks [AOR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.31, 2.5)], and multigravidity (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI (1.90,4.21) were significantly associated with skin to skin contact.ConclusionsThe practicing level of safe cord care and skin-to-skin contact was high. In this study, the age of mothers, educational status, and knowledge of post-partum women on safe cord care were determinants of a safe cord care practice. While the age of mothers, marital status, occupational status, knowledge of mother, and gestational age at birth were significantly associated with skin-to-skin contact practice. Safe cord care should be strengthened and intensified to reduce neonatal mortality due to avoidable umbilical cord infections. Furthermore, skin-to-skin contact practice should be strengthened to enhance the survival of at-risk neonates.

Determinants of potentially harmful traditional cord care practices among mothers in Ethiopia

“…In this study, 13.70% of mothers applied potentially harmful substances, such as dung, oil, ointments, ash, and butter on the umbilical stump of the neonates. This finding was lower than the studies done in Benin City (46.1%) ( 17 ), Nigeria (22.2 and 67.3%) ( 18 , 19 ), Nepal (26 and 43%) ( 28 ), Uganda 39.6% ( 3 ), Southwest Ethiopia (20.4 and 54.7%) ( 20 , 23 ), and Eastern Ethiopia (29.3%) ( 24 ). The discrepancy may be due to variations in access to awareness, geographical variations, and health-seeking behavior across the different cultural beliefs.…”

“…However, many pieces of evidence from Ethiopia and other low-and middle-income countries have shown that mothers apply substances, such as butter, hot fermentation, lantern wax, fish bone, toothpaste, ash, charcoal, oils, vaseline, saliva, red sand, menthol-containing balm, traditional medicine, and cow dung (3,11,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). These practices often take place under unsterilized conditions; hence, they increase the risk of umbilical infection and neonatal tetanus.…”

Level of skin-to-skin care practices among postnatal mothers in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The level of skin-to-skin care practice and its determinants among postnatal mothers in Ethiopia were examined in eight cross-sectional studies that made up this study. The studies were released in the years 2017 [ 6 ] through 2022 [ 7 , 20 , 21 ]. Of all studies, two studies were conducted at the national level [ 22 , 23 ], two studies were from the Oromia region [ 20 , 21 ], two studies were from Harari regional state [ 7 , 24 ], one study was from Tigray [ 6 ] and one study was from Southern Nation Nationalities and people of Ethiopia [ 8 ].…”

“…The studies were released in the years 2017 [ 6 ] through 2022 [ 7 , 20 , 21 ]. Of all studies, two studies were conducted at the national level [ 22 , 23 ], two studies were from the Oromia region [ 20 , 21 ], two studies were from Harari regional state [ 7 , 24 ], one study was from Tigray [ 6 ] and one study was from Southern Nation Nationalities and people of Ethiopia [ 8 ]. The sample size of the included studies ranged from 286 in a study done in Oromia [ 20 ] to a maximum of 7488 in a study conducted at the national level [ 22 ].…”

“…After delivery, skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn helps with breastfeeding, reduces crying, and strengthens the bond between the two. Maintaining SSC throughout the postpartum phase is essential because it will lessen the need for formula to be added to breast milk and assist new mothers in becoming more adjusted to their new roles as mothers [ [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] ].…”