Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42695229›Full record

Trial reportGlobal health action2026

Acceptability of alcohol-based hand rub during neonatal care in rural Ugandan households: a qualitative study nested within the BabyGel trial.

Heidi H Thorsdalen, Ingunn Marie S Engebretsen, David Mukunya, Vivian Mutaki, Agnes Napyo, Thorkild Tylleskär, Andrew Weeks, Melf-Jakob Kühl

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Global health action, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from 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.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Heidi H ThorsdalenCentre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care (IGS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0009-0009-5956-5624
Ingunn Marie S EngebretsenCentre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care (IGS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0001-5852-3611
David MukunyaFaculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-3892-9777
Vivian MutakiFaculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.ORCID 0009-0001-5009-4418
Agnes NapyoDepartment of Nursing, Kabale University, Kabale, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0003-4333-3588
Thorkild TylleskärCentre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care (IGS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0003-4801-4324
Andrew WeeksDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1909-337X
Melf-Jakob KühlCentre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care (IGS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0003-3039-8606

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPoor access to water, sanitation and hygiene exacerbates the spread of infections among newborns. The BabyGel cluster randomised trial assessed the effectiveness of a community-level alcohol-based hand rub with a training component in reducing infection or death rates among newborns in Uganda.

objectiveNested in the BabyGel trial, this study investigated the acceptability of the BabyGel intervention among mothers and household members in Eastern Uganda, using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

methodsIn 2022, we conducted individual semistructured interviews with mothers, and group interviews with mothers and other household members, all recruited from intervention-arm clusters. Thematic analysis combined inductive and deductive coding, structured by the framework's seven constructs: affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity costs, perceived effectiveness and self-efficacy.

resultsTwenty mothers and 14 household members participated in 10 individual and 10 small group interviews. Participants found the intervention generally acceptable, appreciating its convenience and perceived protection against infection. Many described hand hygiene changes that persisted beyond the intervention period. However, concerns related to its harmful effects, spiritual beliefs and social tensions with visitors occasionally influenced its use.

conclusionAlcohol-based hand rub combined with a training component was generally well accepted, driven by perceived health and practical benefits, although concerns related to safety, belief systems and social dynamics remained. Because data collection coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of heightened hygiene awareness, the acceptability observed could differ in nonpandemic periods. Culturally adapted education, community engagement and reinforcement of correct use may enhance acceptability and sustainability in similar settings.

Indexed as

Anti-Infective Agents, LocalEthanolHand DisinfectionPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultFamily CharacteristicsFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornInterviews as TopicMaleMothersQualitative ResearchRural PopulationUgandaYoung AdultAnti-Infective Agents, LocalEthanolAcceptabilityhand hygieneinfection prevention and controlnewborn healthUganda

Identifiers

PMID42695229
PMCPMC13552334

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.