Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26177637›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2015

Skin, thermal and umbilical cord care practices for neonates in southern, rural Zambia: a qualitative study.

Emma Sacks, William J Moss, Peter J Winch, Philip Thuma, Janneke H van Dijk, Luke C Mullany

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
5.2field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.

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  9. Essential newborn care practices in Zambia.Journal of public health in Africa · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Emma SacksDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, E8011, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. esacks@jhu.edu.
William J MossDepartment of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, E6547, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. wmoss1@jhu.edu.
Peter J WinchDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, E5533, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. pwinch@jhu.edu.
Philip ThumaMacha Research Trust, PO Box 630 166, Choma, Zambia. Phil.thuma@macharesearch.org.
Janneke H van DijkMacha Research Trust, PO Box 630 166, Choma, Zambia. Janneke.h.vandijk@gmail.com.
Luke C MullanyDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, E5533, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. lmullany@jhu.edu.
Johns Hopkins University · USGolden Valley Agricultural Research Trust · ZMUnited States Agency for International Development · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn Choma District, southern Zambia, the neonatal mortality rate is approximately 40 per 1000 live births and, although the rate is decreasing, many deliveries take place outside of formal facilities. Understanding local practices during the postnatal period is essential for optimizing newborn care programs.

methodsWe conducted 36 in-depth interviews, five focus groups and eight observational sessions with recently-delivered women, traditional birth attendants, and clinic and hospital staff from three sites, focusing on skin, thermal and cord care practices for newborns in the home.

resultsNewborns were generally kept warm by application of hats and layers of clothing. While thermal protection is provided for preterm and small newborns, the practice of nighttime bathing with cold water was common. The vernix was considered important for the preterm newborn but dangerous for HIV-exposed infants. Mothers applied various substances to the skin and umbilical cord, with special practices for preterm infants. Applied substances included petroleum jelly, commercial baby lotion, cooking oil and breastmilk. The most common substances applied to the umbilical cord were powders made of roots, burnt gourds or ash. To ward off malevolent spirits, similar powders were reportedly placed directly into dermal incisions, especially in ill children.

conclusionsThermal care for newborns is commonly practiced but co-exists with harmful practices. Locally appropriate behavior change interventions should aim to promote chlorhexidine in place of commonly-reported application of harmful substances to the skin and umbilical cord, reduce bathing of newborns at night, and address the immediate bathing of HIV-infected newborns.

Indexed as

Umbilical CordAttitude to HealthBathsClothingCultural CharacteristicsDermatologic AgentsFemaleFocus GroupsHome ChildbirthHumansInfant, NewbornMaleMidwiferyMothersPerinatal CarePerinatal DeathDermatologic Agents

Identifiers

PMID26177637
PMCPMC4504223
OpenAlexW1587078281

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.