Mehzabin Haider Hazarika1 , Ubedul Islam2
BACKGROUND Neonatal mortality is one of the most daunting health challenges faced by India. Newborn care is sub-optimal in the slums and the newborns here are victims of various malpractices endangering their health and survival. We wanted to study the existing newborn care practices in slums of Guwahati city and evaluate the various factors influencing them. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 mothers having children below 12 months of age in the slums of Guwahati city, Assam from August 2018 to July 2019. RESULTS Out of 300 mothers interviewed, majority (63 %) had institutional deliveries and only 37 % of the mothers delivered at home. Out of 111 home deliveries, new blade was used in majority (82.88 %) for cutting the cord. Some material was applied to the cord stump like mustard oil, ash, vermilion, talcum powder etc. as customary practice in 68 % of home deliveries. Majority of the newborns (89 %) were wrapped with clean cloth immediately after birth. However, 59.33 % of the newborns were given first bath within the first day of birth. Majority of mothers (80.67 %) initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth and 71.33 % of the newborns were given colostrum. However, pre lacteal feed was highly practised (59.33 %) in the study area. CONCLUSIONS All the domains in newborn care were not appropriately practised. These issues need to be addressed effectively through health education and counselling.
