Neonatal home care practices in rural Egypt during the first week of life.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information about home care practices for newborns in rural Egypt, in order to improve neonatal home care through preventive measures and prompt recognition of danger signs.


METHODS
Survey of newborn home care practices during the first week of life in 217 households in three rural Egyptian Governorates.


RESULTS
Many practices met common neonatal care standards, particularly prompt initial breastfeeding, feeding of colostrum and continued breastfeeding, and most bathing practices. However, several practices could be modified to improve neonatal care and survival. Supplemental substances were given to 44% of newborns as pre-lacteal feeds, and to more than half during the first week. Nearly half (43%) of mothers reported that they did not wash their hands before neonatal care, and only 7% washed hands after diaper changes. Thermal control was not practiced, although mothers perceived 22% of newborns to be hypothermic.


CONCLUSIONS
The practices we observed, which are critical for newborn survival, could be improved with minor modifications. We provide a framework for communicating behaviour change and setting research priorities for improving neonatal health.
Darmstadt
Gary L
GL
Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. gdarmsta@jhsph.edu
Hussein
Mohamed Hassan
MH
Winch
Peter J
PJ
Haws
Rachel A
RA
Lamia
Mohsen
M
El-Said
Mohsen A
MA
Gipson
Reginald F
RF
Santosham
Mathuram
M
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D017028:Caregivers; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012423:Rural Health; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014470:Umbilical Cord