TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................i
AUTHORIZATION.....................................................................................................iii
DEDICATION..............................................................................................................iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................v
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................vi
LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................x
LIST OF TABLES.........................................................................................................x
LIST OF ACRONYMS................................................................................................xi
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS........................................................................................xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION............................................................................1
1.1 Background of the study..........................................................................................1
1.2 Problem Statement...................................................................................................3
1.3 Purpose of the study.................................................................................................4
1.4 Specific objectives...................................................................................................4
1.5 Research questions...................................................................................................4
1.6 Justification of the study..........................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................6
2.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................6
2.1Knowledge on umbilical cord care among mothers.................................................6
2.3 Practices on umbilical cord care among mothers....................................................8
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY....................................................................12
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................12
3.2 Study setting and rationale.....................................................................................12
3.4 Study population....................................................................................................13
3.4.1 Sample size estimations......................................................................................13
3.4.2 Sampling procedure............................................................................................14
3.4.4 Exclusion criteria................................................................................................15
3.5 Study variables.......................................................................................................15
3.5.1 Dependent variables............................................................................................15
3.5.2 Independent variables.........................................................................................15
3.6Research instruments..............................................................................................15
3.7 Data collection procedures....................................................................................15
3.7.1 Data management...............................................................................................16
3.7.2 Data analysis and presentation............................................................................16
3.8 Ethical considerations............................................................................................17
3.9 Limitations of the study.........................................................................................17
3.10 Dissemination of the results.................................................................................17
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND FINDINGS.......................................................18
4.0 Introduction............................................................................................................18
4.1 Demographic data of the mothers..........................................................................18
4.2 Knowledge on umbilical cord care among mothers.........................................23
4.3 Practices on umbilical cord care among mothers..................................................26
CHAPTER FIVE: 5.0 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................30
5.1.1 Demographic data...............................................................................................30
5.2.3 Practices on umbilical cord care among mother.................................................34
5.3 Recommendations..................................................................................................39
To the nursing practice................................................................................................40
REFERENCES............................................................................................................41
APPENDICES.............................................................................................................46
Appendix I: Consent Form..........................................................................................46
Appendix II: Questionnaire.........................................................................................47
Appendix III: Letter of Authorization.........................................................................51
Appendix IV: Map of Uganda showing the location of Kisoro District......................52
Appendix V: Map of Kisoro District showing location of Mutolere Hospital............53
ABSTRACT Clean cord care is considered as one of the essential newborn care practices recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality amongst the world’s newborns. However cord infections are still prevalent because of unhygienic cord care practices and cultural belief in giving care to neonates. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices on umbilical cord care among mothers attending young child clinic in Mutolere Hospital, Kisoro district. s A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed and quantitative methods of data collection was used. 82 mothers were selected by purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaire and analyzed using Microsoft excel and word. Most mothers lacked adequate knowledge on the days which the cord takes to fall, and only few knew the advantage of cord care. Practices for most mothers on cord care were mostly poor due to mothers delivering from home and traditional birth attendants. Applying substances on the baby’s cord Like herbs, oil and cow dug. Majority used to cut baby’s cord with razor blade and majority used thread to tie the baby’s cord which are not usually sterile materials making babies exposed to infections resulting in neonatal death. Health education among mothers on; importance of hospital delivery, dangers of poor cord practice mainly on unhygienic application of substances on baby’s cord, emphasizing aseptic techniques to prevent complications mainly neonatal death.