{"title":"Use of chlorhexidine digluconate 7.1% gel for umbilical cord care in selected regions in Northern Ghana: qualitative perspectives of key stakeholders.","authors":"Demi Priscilla Letsa Duah, Andrews Adjekwei Adjieteh, Selase Adjei, Kamil Fuseini, Akua Danquah Obeng-Dwamena, Joseph Addo-Yobo, Augustine Ankomah","doi":"10.1186/s12884-024-07060-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Government of Ghana in 2017 included chlorhexidine (CHX) digluconate 7.1% gel in the essential medicines list to replace methylated spirit for umbilical cord care. However, there are limited studies around the use of the CHX gel. This paper explores the perspectives of stakeholders in childcare regarding the use of the gel for umbilical cord care in selected regions in Northern Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data for the study were from 42 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions conducted among mothers, caregivers, fathers, traditional birth attendants, and health care providers (including pharmacists and over the counter medicine sellers). The transcribed data was analysed and organized into themes and sub-themes using thematic analysis approach. The data analysis was conducted using NVIVO version 12 analytical software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CHX gel was used side-by-side with methylated spirit for umbilical cord care in the study areas. Use of methylated spirit for umbilical cord care was found to be common, and in the home setting there was evidence of use of traditional substances such as shea butter, toothpaste, cow dung, herbs and chalk. However, shea butter was regarded as the \"golden standard\" for cord care among non-health professionals. Co-use of traditional and orthodox cord care substances was also rife. The limited use of the CHX gel was attributable to the fact that some participants, especially health providers were convinced that the gel and methylated spirit were both effective; hence they continued prescribing methylated spirit over the gel for cord care. Evidence on the efficacy of the gel was mixed perhaps a reflection of the limited awareness and knowledge about the CHX gel, and the limited use behaviour / use skills. Additionally, awareness of the inclusion of the CHX gel in the national health insurance was also mixed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The CHX gel is yet to replace other cord care substances as the use of methylated spirit and traditional substances were still prevalent. Hence, a comprehensive strategy is needed to create awareness and educate providers, significant others, and the community about the gel and its efficacy if it is to replace methylated spirit as the cord care substance.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"24 1","pages":"851"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11667800/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07060-3","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The Government of Ghana in 2017 included chlorhexidine (CHX) digluconate 7.1% gel in the essential medicines list to replace methylated spirit for umbilical cord care. However, there are limited studies around the use of the CHX gel. This paper explores the perspectives of stakeholders in childcare regarding the use of the gel for umbilical cord care in selected regions in Northern Ghana.
Methods: Data for the study were from 42 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions conducted among mothers, caregivers, fathers, traditional birth attendants, and health care providers (including pharmacists and over the counter medicine sellers). The transcribed data was analysed and organized into themes and sub-themes using thematic analysis approach. The data analysis was conducted using NVIVO version 12 analytical software.
Results: CHX gel was used side-by-side with methylated spirit for umbilical cord care in the study areas. Use of methylated spirit for umbilical cord care was found to be common, and in the home setting there was evidence of use of traditional substances such as shea butter, toothpaste, cow dung, herbs and chalk. However, shea butter was regarded as the "golden standard" for cord care among non-health professionals. Co-use of traditional and orthodox cord care substances was also rife. The limited use of the CHX gel was attributable to the fact that some participants, especially health providers were convinced that the gel and methylated spirit were both effective; hence they continued prescribing methylated spirit over the gel for cord care. Evidence on the efficacy of the gel was mixed perhaps a reflection of the limited awareness and knowledge about the CHX gel, and the limited use behaviour / use skills. Additionally, awareness of the inclusion of the CHX gel in the national health insurance was also mixed.
Conclusions: The CHX gel is yet to replace other cord care substances as the use of methylated spirit and traditional substances were still prevalent. Hence, a comprehensive strategy is needed to create awareness and educate providers, significant others, and the community about the gel and its efficacy if it is to replace methylated spirit as the cord care substance.
背景:2017年,加纳政府将7.1%二光酸氯己定凝胶列入基本药物清单,以取代甲基化精神用于脐带护理。然而,关于CHX凝胶使用的研究有限。本文探讨了利益相关者在儿童保育方面的观点,涉及在加纳北部选定地区使用凝胶进行脐带护理。方法:研究数据来自42个深度访谈和12个焦点小组讨论,参与者包括母亲、照顾者、父亲、传统助产士和卫生保健提供者(包括药剂师和非处方药销售商)。采用主题分析法对转录数据进行分析,并将其组织为主题和分主题。使用NVIVO version 12分析软件进行数据分析。结果:CHX凝胶与甲基化液联合应用于研究区脐带护理。在脐带护理中使用甲基化酒精是很常见的,在家庭环境中,有证据表明使用了传统物质,如乳木果油、牙膏、牛屎、草药和粉笔。然而,乳木果油被非卫生专业人员视为脐带护理的“黄金标准”。传统和正统脐带护理物质的共同使用也很普遍。CHX凝胶的有限使用是由于一些参与者,特别是保健提供者确信凝胶和甲基化酒精都有效;因此,他们继续给脐带护理处方甲基化烈酒,而不是凝胶。关于凝胶疗效的证据好坏参半,这可能反映了对CHX凝胶的有限认识和知识,以及有限的使用行为/使用技能。此外,人们对CHX凝胶纳入国民健康保险的认识也参差不齐。结论:由于甲基化酒精和传统物质的使用仍然普遍,CHX凝胶尚未取代其他脐带护理物质。因此,如果要取代甲基化烈酒作为脐带护理物质,就需要一个全面的战略来提高认识,并教育提供者、重要他人和社区关于凝胶及其功效的认识。
期刊介绍:
BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. The journal welcomes submissions on the biomedical aspects of pregnancy, breastfeeding, labor, maternal health, maternity care, trends and sociological aspects of pregnancy and childbirth.