Table 1 Definitions of newborn care practices
Intervention | Indicator | WHO Recommendationa | Harmonized Response Categories | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thermal care | Immediate drying or wrapping | Dried or wrapped immediatelyb | (1) Dried or wrapped within 5 min of birth or before delivery of the placenta (2) Dried or wrapped after 5 min of birth or after delivery of the placenta (3) Not dried, don’t know, or missing | Only surveys in Bangladesh included options for not being dried or wrapped. |
Delayed bathing | Bathed after 24 h; however, after 6 h may be appropriate in certain contexts | (1) Bathed 6 h or more after birth (2) Bathed within the first 6 h of birth (3) Not bathed, don’t know, or missing | Question not included in India survey. Only surveys in Bangladesh included an option for “Not bathed”. | |
Immediate skin-to-skin contact | Skin-to-skin contact between babies and mothers during the first hour after birth | (1) Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth (2) No skin-to-skin immediately after birth (3) Don’t know, or missing | Question not included in India survey. | |
Full thermal care | Immediate drying, delayed bathing, skin-to-skin | (1) All recommended thermal care interventions (2) None, some, don’t know, or missing | In India, the thermal care composite variable includes only the indicator for drying. | |
Hygienic cord care | Clean instrument used to cut the cord | A new or boiled instrument should be used to cut the cord | (1) A new or boiled instrument was used to cut the umbilical cord, or a clean delivery kit was used (2) A used or non-boiled instrument (3) Don’t know or missing | Clean instruments could include (boiled or new) blade, scissors, or knife. Other instruments included bamboo, sickle, or other. |
Nothing applied to the cord | Dry cord care is recommended; however, in high-mortality settings chlorhexidine is recommended | (1) Nothing was put on the umbilical cord stump (2) Only an antiseptic and no other substance (3) Any other substance applied (4) Don’t know or missing | Question not included in India survey. Antiseptics include chlorhexidine, methylated spirits, gentian violet, unspecified antibiotic. Other substances include mustard oil, ghee, turmeric, chewed rice, ginger juice, boric powder, talcum powder, vermillion, dung, local herbs. | |
Full hygienic cord care | Clean instrument used to cut the cord and dry or antiseptic cord care | (1) Both recommended cord practices (2) Neither, only one, or don’t know or missing | In India, the cord care composite variable includes only the indicator for cord cutting. |