Factors Contributing to Umbilical Cord Infection among Neonates Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kagando Hospital, Kasese District

Abstract

Introduction: Umbilical cord infection, also referred to as omphalitis or umbilical cord sepsis, is an important neonatal health problem because the newly cut umbilical cord can provide a pathway for bacterial invasion and may contribute to neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study assessed factors contributing to umbilical cord infection among neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kagando Hospital, Kasese District.
Purpose: The study determined factors contributing to umbilical cord infection among neonates admitted to the NICU at Kagando Hospital, Kasese District.
Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study design was used. Data were collected from 32 caretakers using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents were selected using purposive sampling. Data were coded, tallied and summarized using frequencies and percentages, and findings were presented in tables and figures.
Results: Among the 32 respondents, 14 (43.8%) reported applying Vaseline to the baby's cord, 8 (25.0%) reported applying saliva, 4 (12.5%) reported applying breast milk and 3 (9.4%) reported applying cow dung. Eighteen (56.3%) respondents reported attending antenatal care fewer than four times. Sixteen (50.0%) reported greenish amniotic fluid and 12 (37.5%) reported becoming sick during delivery. Sixteen (50.0%) reported that their babies did not cry immediately after birth, while 2 (6.3%) reported breech presentation and 8 (25.0%) reported that their babies were born sick. All 32 (100.0%) respondents reported that health workers did not educate them on cord care. Twenty (62.5%) reported that health workers sometimes washed their hands before touching the cord, while 30 (93.8%) reported that only one to two health workers were available on the ward per shift.
Conclusion: The reported findings indicate that maternal, neonatal and health-facility factors may contribute to umbilical cord infection among neonates admitted to the NICU at Kagando Hospital. Important concerns included potentially inappropriate substances applied to the cord, inadequate antenatal care attendance, adverse intrapartum conditions, low immediate newborn responsiveness, inconsistent hand hygiene, lack of maternal education on cord care and inadequate staffing.
Recommendation: The Ministry of Health and relevant health managers should strengthen comprehensive cord-care education during antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, address harmful myths and practices, strengthen community health education, reinforce hand hygiene and infection-prevention practices, and consider staffing needs within neonatal care services.

Keywords