Department of Community and Public Health, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.
Neonatal Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale, Uganda.
BMC Pediatr. 2023 May 5;23(1):223. doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-04040-y.
The skin is a major route of infection in the neonatal period, especially in low birthweight (LBW) infants. Appropriate and safe neonatal skin care practices are required to reduce this risk. The perceptions and beliefs of mothers and other caregivers towards various neonatal skin care practices in our setting have been documented. Data from Asia suggests that the application of emollient to the skin of LBW infants can promote growth, reduce serious neonatal infections, and potentially reduce mortality. This is the first study to explore the acceptability of emollients and massage as part of neonatal skin care in a low-resource setting in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that is representative of the majority of government health facilities in Uganda and many in SSA.
To explore perceptions, beliefs, and current practices regarding neonatal skin care and emollient use in eastern Uganda.
We conducted a qualitative study consisting of three focus group discussions (30 participants), eight in-depth interviews with mothers/caregivers of preterm and term neonates and 12 key informant interviews with midwives, doctors and community health workers involved in neonatal care, to explore the perceptions and practices surrounding neonatal skin care and emollient use. Data collected were transcribed and analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Mothers perceived that skin care began in utero. Skincare practices depended on the place of delivery; for deliveries in a health facility the skincare practices were mainly based on the health worker's advice. Vernix caseosa was often washed off due to its perceived undesirability and was attributed to sexual intercourse in the last trimester. Despite their deleterious attributes found in previous studies, petrolatum-based oils, petrolatum-based jellies and talcum baby powders were the most commonly reported items used in neonatal skin care. In our population, there was high acceptability of emollient therapy use; however, neonatal massage was treated with scepticism as mothers feared damaging the vulnerable neonate. Mothers suggested massage and emollient application be undertaken by health workers, if it becomes an intervention.
In eastern Uganda, the perceptions and beliefs of mothers/caregivers toward neonatal skincare influenced their practices of which some could potentially be beneficial, and others harmful. Emollient use would be easily accepted if adequate sensitisation is conducted and using the gatekeepers such as health workers.
皮肤是新生儿期感染的主要途径，尤其是对于低出生体重（LBW）婴儿。需要采取适当和安全的新生儿皮肤护理措施来降低这种风险。在我们的研究环境中，母亲和其他护理人员对各种新生儿皮肤护理措施的看法和信念已经有了记录。来自亚洲的数据表明，在 LBW 婴儿的皮肤上涂抹润肤剂可以促进生长，减少严重的新生儿感染，并可能降低死亡率。这是第一项探索在撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）资源匮乏环境中接受润肤剂和按摩作为新生儿皮肤护理一部分的研究，该研究代表了乌干达大多数政府医疗机构和许多 SSA 国家的情况。
探讨乌干达东部地区对新生儿皮肤护理和使用润肤剂的看法、信念和当前做法。
我们进行了一项定性研究，包括 3 次焦点小组讨论（30 名参与者）、8 次对早产儿和足月产儿的母亲/照顾者的深入访谈以及 12 次对参与新生儿护理的助产士、医生和社区卫生工作者的关键知情人访谈，以探讨围绕新生儿皮肤护理和使用润肤剂的看法和做法。收集的数据经过转录和主题内容分析进行分析。
母亲们认为皮肤护理始于宫内。皮肤护理的做法取决于分娩地点；在医疗机构分娩的，皮肤护理主要基于卫生工作者的建议。胎脂经常因被认为不美观而被洗掉，并且被归因于妊娠晚期的性行为。尽管之前的研究发现它们具有有害属性，但基于凡士林的油、基于凡士林的凝胶和滑石粉婴儿粉是新生儿皮肤护理中最常报告的用品。在我们的人群中，对使用润肤剂疗法的接受度很高；然而，新生儿按摩被视为对脆弱新生儿的伤害，因此受到怀疑。母亲们建议，如果按摩和润肤剂应用成为一种干预措施，应由卫生工作者来进行。
在乌干达东部，母亲/照顾者对新生儿皮肤护理的看法和信念影响了他们的护理实践，其中一些可能是有益的，而另一些则可能是有害的。如果进行充分的宣传，并利用卫生工作者等守门员，使用润肤剂将很容易被接受。
