From J Midwifery Womens Health. 2007 Jan-Feb;52(1):37-43.“Use of a clean delivery kit and factors associated with cord infection and puerperal sepsis in Mwanza, Tanzania.” Winani S, Wood S, Coffey P, Chirwa T, Mosha F, Changalucha J. Source: Ministry of Health, Republic of Tanzania.
Here’s the abstract of a study done in Tanzania, 3262 women were surveyed and their babies cord stumps checked. Here’s what they found:
Newborns whose mothers used the delivery kit were 13.1 times less likely to develop cord infection than infants whose mothers did not use the kit. Furthermore, women who used the kit for delivery were 3.2 times less likely to develop puerperal sepsis than women who did not use the kit. Women who bathed before delivery were 2.6 times less likely to develop puerperal sepsis than women who did not bathe, and their infants were 3.9 times less likely to develop cord infection. Single-use delivery kits, when combined with education about clean delivery, can have a positive impact on the health of women and their newborns by significantly decreasing the likelihood of developing puerperal sepsis or cord infection.
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