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Article: Umbilical cord infection among Nepalese newborns.(Brief article)
- Article from:
- International Family Planning Perspectives
- Article date:
- March 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 The Alan Guttmacher Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Certain postnatal care practices, such as the application of unclean substances to an infant's umbilical cord, are associated with the risk of umbilical cord infection among newborns, according to a study of infants born in Nepal between September 2002 and March 2005. (1) Among the 17,198 infants enrolled in the study, the total incidence of umbilical cord infection (defined as the presence of pus with moderate or severe redness, or the presence of severe redness) was 5.5 cases per 100 neonates. Within two days of delivery, 38% of infants had had mustard oil applied to their umbilical cords, 7% mud, 2% ash and 1% other substances, such as breast milk, saliva or herbs. In ...