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Table 2 Examples of meaning units, codes, categories and themes from qualitative content analysis of interviews about umbilical cord care meanings and practices

From: “The cord is the child”: meanings and practices related to umbilical cord care in Central Uganda

Meaning unit/quotes

Code

Category

Theme

The umbilical cord is the life of the child because it’s where the child breathes. If it’s cut off before time, the child could die. (Grandmother FGD)

Source of life

Inside the womb: “The umbilical cord is the centre of life”

 

They fear the cord because it doesn’t look like the normal skin, and there is some little blood in the beginning, and as it shrinks it forms a certain discharge, which makes them think it’s painful for the baby. (Health worker IDI)

Cord looks weird

Fear of cord

Cord is Painful

On the surface of the baby’s body: The cord as a source of tension

“The cord is the child”

(Deduced theme/content area)

There is even a saying that protect your child like you would protect the umbilical cord, the saying applies to anything, for example your phone, they say protect your phone like you would protect the umbilical cord, they say this because the cord has the function of proving that the child belongs to his clan

Proving child clan

After detachment: “The cord is the passport to the clan”