title: Avoiding neonatal death: an intervention study of umbilical cord care.
abstract: During a study of pregnancy in a poor rural tropical area, a high prevalence of neonatal fever and umbilical cord infection was detected. Interim analysis showed that this was associated with subsequent development of neonatal sepsis. Therefore an intervention was introduced in two stages. In the first stage, acriflavine spirit and new razor blades were supplied to mothers, along with instructions for use, through antenatal clinics. In the second stage, when excessive cord bleeding was reported, umbilical cord clamps were added to the pack. The packs were associated with reduction of serious morbidity in the neonatal period. The study demonstrates the importance of umbilical cord care in the aetiology of life threatening neonatal morbidity in village births in a developing country and the effect of a simple intervention in reducing morbid episodes in the neonate.
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baea
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heywood
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D009512:New Guinea; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D014470:Umbilical Cord