ReviewInternational journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics2007
The use of chlorhexidine to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in low-resource settings.
Review in International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 72 citations in OpenAlex.
- Umbilical cord antiseptics for preventing sepsis and death among newborns.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026Pooled it
- Prevention and Treatment of Neonatal Infections in Facility and Community Settings of Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Descriptive Review.Neonatology · 2025Pooled it
- Association of Chlorhexidine Use and Scaling and Root Planing With Birth Outcomes in Pregnant Individuals With Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA network open · 2022Pooled it
- What is the result of vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine during labour on maternal and neonatal infections? A systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2018Pooled it
- Chlorhexidine skin or cord care for prevention of mortality and infections in neonates.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- Umbilical cord antiseptics for preventing sepsis and death among newborns.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013Pooled it
- The effect of umbilical cord cleansing with chlorhexidine on omphalitis and neonatal mortality in community settings in developing countries: a meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2013Pooled it
- Postoperative effects of intra-alveolar application of 0.2% chlorhexidine or 1% hyaluronic acid bioadhesive gels after mandibular third molar extraction: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.Clinical oral investigations · 2021Trial
- Waterless Hand Cleansing with Chlorhexidine during the Neonatal Period by Mothers and Other Household Members: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2020Trial
- Effect of 4 % chlorhexidine on cord colonization among hospital and community births in India: a randomized controlled study.BMC pediatrics · 2016Trial
- Trial of improved practices approach to explore the acceptability and feasibility of different modes of chlorhexidine application for neonatal cord care in Pemba, Tanzania.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2015Trial
- The community-based delivery of an innovative neonatal kit to save newborn lives in rural Pakistan: design of a cluster randomized trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2014Trial
- Chlorhexidine vaginal and infant wipes to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity: a randomized controlled trial.Obstetrics and gynecology · 2010Trial
- Impact of 4.0% chlorhexidine cleansing of the umbilical cord on mortality and omphalitis among newborns of Sylhet, Bangladesh: design of a community-based cluster randomized trial.BMC pediatrics · 2009Trial
- A randomized controlled trial of the impact of chlorhexidine skin cleansing on bacterial colonization of hospital-born infants in Nepal.The Pediatric infectious disease journal · 2008Trial
- Impact of chlorhexidine and emollient cleansing on bloodstream infections in a Neonatal ICU.Southern African journal of infectious diseases · 2025Article
- A Review of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Special Populations: Considerations in Children, Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women, and the Elderly.Dermatology and therapy · 2024Review
- Primary prevention with vaginal chlorhexidine before 16 weeks reduces the incidence of preterm birth: results of the Preterm Labor Prevention Using Vaginal Antiseptics study.AJOG global reports · 2023Article
- Oral cleaning habits and the copy number of periodontal bacteria in pregnant women and its correlation with birth outcomes: an epidemiological study in Mibilizi, Rwanda.BMC oral health · 2022Article
- Chlorhexidine for facility-based umbilical cord care: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2021Observational
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
20 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Of the 4 million neonatal deaths and 500,000 maternal deaths that occur annually worldwide, almost 99% are in developing countries and one-third are associated with infections. Implementation of proven interventions and targeted research on a select number of promising high-impact preventative and curative interventions are essential to achieve Millennium Development Goals for reduction of child and maternal mortality. Feasible, simple, low-cost interventions have the potential to significantly reduce the mortality and severe morbidity associated with infection in these settings. Studies of chlorhexidine in developing countries have focused on three primary uses: 1) intrapartum vaginal and neonatal wiping, 2) neonatal wiping alone, and 3) umbilical cord cleansing. A study of vaginal wiping and neonatal skin cleansing with chlorhexidine, conducted in Malawi in the 1990s suggested that chlorhexidine has potential to reduce neonatal infectious morbidity and mortality. A recent trial of cord cleansing conducted in Nepal also demonstrated benefit. Although studies have shown promise, widespread acceptance and implementation of chlorhexidine use has not yet occurred. This paper is derived in part from data presented at a conference on the use of chlorhexidine in developing countries and reviews the available evidence related to chlorhexidine use to reduce mortality and severe morbidity due to infections in mothers and neonates in low-resource settings. It also summarizes issues related to programmatic implementation.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.