Umbilical Cord Care Knowledge and Practice: What is the Status of National Chlorhexidine Gel Scale-Up in Nnewi Nigeria?

Background: Use of chlorhexidine gel for cord care was scaled up in Nigeria to address the high burden neonatal deaths from severe sepsis but there is scarcity data on its uptake.
 Aim: A cross-sectional study conducted examine practices mothers Nnewi.
 Methods: Data obtained using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire, and analyzed with SPSS version 21. P-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. 
 Results: Mean age 214 studied 29.6 ± 5.53 years. Majority had at least secondary education (93.5%), were income earners (83.2%), attended ante-natal clinic (ANC) (83.1%) or delivered (81.8%) a health facility skilled provider, received during pregnancy index baby (80.4%). Health mostly ANC (75.6%[130/172]) nurses (73.3%[126/172]). knew about methylated spirit use (89.3%) consequence poor (75.7%) only 2.8% aware use.
 Umbilical stump commonly cleaned hot compress (24.8%). Thereafter, 47.7% applied nothing while others petroleum jelly (33.2%), toothpaste (8.9%), dusting powder (3.3%) etc. Reasons given adopting particular practice included efficacy (54.7%), advice by people (25.7%), peer’s influence (8.4%) convenience (8.4%). Factors significantly associated antiseptic agent maternal age, educational level, access source education, frequency visits.
 Conclusion/Recommendation: Respondents demonstrated good knowledge standard awareness almost non-existent. .
 Hindrances effective national scale-up should be identified addressed. There’s serious need enlightenment campaigns public media channels such as radio jingles.