Magnitude and Factors Associated with Postnatal Cord Care Practice among Mothers in Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019 GC: A Community Based Cross sectional Study

Background: Cord care is one component of essential newborn care which comprises a sequence of steps. Immediately at birth and during post natal period, umbilical cord care is related with different traditional practices and believes. There is limited evidence regarding umbilical cord care and its associated factors in Ethiopia as well as in the study conducted. The aim of this study was to assess magnitude and factors associated with post natal cord care practice among mothers in Mekelle city, Tigray, Ethiopia, from November to December 2019GC. Method: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 up to December 2019 among 592 postnatal mothers in Mekelle city, Tigray Ethiopia. Multi-stage approach to sampling was used to select the kebeles, then systematic sampling was used, to select the participants. Data were collected by structured and pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire; the collected data was entered into Epi-Data 4.2 then exported and analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results of the study participants were described and presented by using frequencies, percentages, summary measures, tables and graphs. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with postnatal cord care practice by using 95% confidence interval. Results: Most of 565 (95.3%) respondents were married and around 111(18.8%) respondents were unable to write and read. From the total respondents, 385(65%) mothers were multipara and almost all 589(99.5%) mothers gave birth at health institution. proportion of mothers who practiced good postnatal cord care was found to be 75.7% & Butter was the commonly applied substance to cord stump, with duration ranging from one to eighteen days. mothers who’s their baby’s faced problem of umbilical cord stumps were 39(6.6%). Age of the mother, educational level, knowledge of the mother on cord care, source of information about cord care and ever counseled about cord care were significantly associated with postnatal cord care practice. Conclusions: Even though the prevalence of good cord care practice is high, there is still a use of potentially harmful substances and still many neonates are at risk of developing Omphalitis and neonatal sepsis.