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Umbilical cord-cutting practices and place of delivery in Bangladesh
Johanna Y Andrews1, Koustuv Dalal
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Objective:
To investigate place of delivery, umbilical cord-cutting instruments used, and substances applied to the cord stump in Bangladesh.
Methods:
A cross-sectional data analysis was performed on a nationally representative sample of 4925 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) with at least 1 child.
Results:
More than 80% of women delivered at home. In 6% of cases, blades from a clean-delivery kit (CDK) were used to cut the cord; in 90% of cases, the blades used were from another source; in 4% of cases, other instruments such as bamboo strips and scissors were used to cut the cord. In 51% of cases, a substance (e.g. antibiotic powder/ointment, alcohol/spirit, mustard oil with garlic, boric powder, turmeric, and chewed rice) was applied to the stump after the cord was cut.
Conclusion:
The present findings underscore the need for further advocacy, availability, and use of cord-cutting instruments from CDKs, especially for deliveries that occur outside healthcare facilities.
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