Table 2 Community practices and perspectives related to cord care
From: Umbilical cord care in Ethiopia and implications for behavioral change: a qualitative study
Practices and perspectives | Oromia | Amhara | Tigray | Sidama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Length of cord cut | 1 or 2 finger joints, 1 whole finger | 1 or 2 finger joints | 1 or 2 finger joints, 1 whole finger | 1 or 2 finger joints, 1 whole finger |
Cord cutting in relation to delivery of placenta | Before delivery of placenta | Before delivery of placenta | Before delivery of placenta | Before or after delivery of the placenta |
Cord tying | On the side of baby | On the side of the placenta | On both sides of cut | On the side of baby or not tied |
Reasons for cord tying | Stem blood flow, Ensure survival of baby and mother, Prevent air from entering baby | Stem blood flow, Facilitate delivery of placenta | Stem blood flow, Ensure survival of baby and mother, Prevent placenta from returning, Culture | Stem blood flow |
Substances applied on cord | Butter, Petroleum jelly, Hair lotion | Butter, Nothing | Butter | Petroleum jelly, Hair lotion, Nothing |
Timing of application | After cutting cord | 2nd or 3rd day | After cutting cord | 2nd or 3rd day |
Reasons for application | Soften the cord, Promote cord separation | Soften the cord, Prevent sores, Promote healing, Promote cord separation | Soften the cord, Prevent sores, Promote healing | Prevent sores, Promote healing, Promote cord separation |
Reasons for delaying or avoiding application | Advice from HW, Cord is moist on 1st & 2nd day | Unnecessary, Custom, Advice from HW, Cord is moist on 1st & 2nd day | N/A | Custom |