Cord care among mothers of sub-urban Lewllem community of Jos South LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Care of the cord is a known determinant of an infant’s well-being in neonatal life period, and when not according to standard frequently results in high prevalence of neonatal infections and complications, some fatal. This study sought to determine the practice of cord care among mothers of Lewllem Community of Jos South LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria. This was a community-based descriptive cross-sectional study among 300 women of reproductive age group 15-49 years with children less than 5 years of age. Substances commonly applied to cord of babies, reasons for cord care, respondents’ age, educational status and ANC attendance were determined. Along with tables and proportions, associations between respondents’ educational and age status and type of substances, reasons for cord care and duration for cord care with significant level at pV < 0.05 were determined. Methylated spirit (57.60%), Vaseline (39.22%), warm water salt solution (16.61%), plain warm water (9.54%) and herbs/native preparation (1.77%) were found in use with achieving the shrivel (drying) of the cord (50.33%), prevention of cord infection (28.33%), timely detachment of the cord (22.67%) and prevention of development of bad odor by cord (2.33%) as reasons for cord care. There was no statistical significant association between educational attainment and choice of the substances (pV = 0.1656), respondents’ age and reasons for cord care (pV = 0.9226), educational attainment and reasons for cord care (pV = 0.3006) and educational attainment and duration of cord care (pV = 1.0000). Presence of a health facility within study setting and 95.5% ANC attendance rate did not impact on respondents’ choices of appropriate substances and informed reasons for cord care. Quality of MCH services made available to pregnant mothers by the health facility, and skills of service providers will require review for remedial measures.