Browsing by Author "Mulwa, Penina Muia"

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    PublicationOpen Access
    Determinants of cord care practices among caregivers in a level 5 facility in Kenya
    (International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2023-11-10) Mulwa, Penina Muia; Mbugua, Ruth Gathoni; Karonjo, Jane
    Background:Globally, in the year 2020, 2.4 million children died with the likelihood of a child in Sub-Saharan Africa to die in their first month after birth being ten times higher compared to that in developed countries. Infection is a leading cause of mortality among infants with a significant number being attributed to umbilical cord infections. The aim of the study was to assess cord care practices and the associated factors among mothers and care givers at the Mombasa County referral hospital in Kenya.Methods:This was a facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the maternal child health/family planning clinic at a level 5 public health facility in Mombasa County, Kenya. Systematic random sampling was employed to select study respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. The association of the dependent and independent variables was assessed using Pearson Chi-square statistics. A p<0.05 was considered significant at 95% CI. Results:Slightly below half (43.6%) of the respondents had practiced inappropriate cord care. Inappropriate cord care practices reported included the use of breast milk (24.3%), herbal substances (17.8%), warm salty water (16.4%), saliva (15.1%), soot (11.2%), black soil (7.9%) and coconut oil (7.2%). Socio-cultural beliefs regarding cord care were prevalent among the respondents. Socio-demographic characteristics, facility-related factors, and socio-cultural factors were associated with cord care practices (p<0.05).Conclusions:There is a need to enhance health education regarding cord care among women in the health facilities and community. Strategies to enhance scale-up of chlorhexidine use should be explored.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Determinants of cord care practices among caregivers of babies 0-6 weeks attending clinic at Mombasa county referral hospital, Kenya.
    (Mount Kenya University, 2023-11) Mulwa, Penina Muia
    The majority of newborn fatalities, according to the Dessalegn, N., et al 2022 the WHO estimated 4 million annual deaths for neonates, taking place in underdeveloped nations. Within 1 week to 6 weeks post-delivery care of the umbilical cord stamp is crucial and should be kept clean and dry for proper healing. The aim of the study was to assess cord care practices among care givers of babies aged 0-6weeks attending maternal child health/family planning clinic services at the Mombasa County referral hospital. The study aimed at establishing if social demographic, social cultural and facility related factors were significantly affecting cord care among care givers of babies 0-6 weeks. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Systematic random sampling was employed to choose respondents with every eighth client consenting to the study being chosen. A total of 376 respondents were selected for the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data was used. Quantitative data was collected using a structured interviewer guided questionnaire. All ethical considerations were sought prior to data collection. Qualitative data was analyzed based on key themes of the study while quantitative data was analyzed using statistical package for social studies (SPSS) version 21. The results were presented using pie-charts, graphs and frequency tables. Inferential statistics were done using Chi square at 95% confidence interval and p≤0.05 considered significant to show variable associations. The results revealed 56.3% of respondents practiced appropriate cord care. The main method of cord was keeping it dry. The most common method of inappropriately managing the cord was application of breast milk. Majority of the babies cord stamps took 3-4 weeks before healing. Majority of socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with cord care practices with a p value < 0.05. Socio-cultural factors such as cord care influencer (p=0.001), mother staying away from the child’s father (p=0.011), babies kept away from visitors till healing (p=0.002) and cord causing tension and anxiety (p=0.001) were significantly associated with cord care practices. Majority of health system factors such as ANC attendance (p=0.013), taught on cord care practice (p=0.001), items for cord care (p=0.004) and provision of adequate information (p=0.018) were significantly associated with cord care practices. The study concludes that the level of practicing appropriate cord care was above average. The socio-demographic, socio-cultural and facility related factors had impacted on the cord care practiced among caregivers in Mombasa County Referral Hospital. The findings of the study would be used to formulate policies to act as a guide for cord care practice in reducing neonatal sepsis related to cord infection.