Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

Background: Multiple substances have been applied to neonates’ umbilical cords and have yielded detrimental results on neonates’ health status. Aim: The study aimed to explore and describe home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers. Setting: The study was conducted at Wat...

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Main Authors: Happiness P. Sabina, Ntsieni S. Mashau, Bumani S. Manganye
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: AOSIS 2025-04-01
Series:Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2676
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author Happiness P. Sabina
Ntsieni S. Mashau
Bumani S. Manganye
author_facet Happiness P. Sabina
Ntsieni S. Mashau
Bumani S. Manganye
author_sort Happiness P. Sabina
collection DOAJ
description Background: Multiple substances have been applied to neonates’ umbilical cords and have yielded detrimental results on neonates’ health status. Aim: The study aimed to explore and describe home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers. Setting: The study was conducted at Waterval community, a village under Dr J.S Moroka local municipality in Nkangala district in the Mpumalanga province. Methods: A qualitative exploratory, descriptive research study design was used to explore home-based care for neonates’ umbilical cords. The target population was family caregivers who had been caring for the umbilical cords of neonates at home. Non-probability and purposive sampling were done, and individual in-depth interviews were used for data collection. The sample size of 18 participants was determined by data saturation. Thematic analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Results: The following main themes emerged during data analysis: substances applied on the umbilical cord, beliefs associated with umbilical cord care, the effectiveness of health education provided on discharge from the community health centre and the healing process. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that various harmful substances were applied to the umbilical cords of neonates, and these practices were influenced by cultural beliefs. Contribution: The findings of the study brought to light that indeed, the application of substances that have not been recommended by the South African guidelines on neonates’ umbilical cord does lead to delayed umbilical cord separation and healing and has the potential to cause neonatal infections.
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2071-9736
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series Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
spelling doaj-art-341c16ed269a48ccb918b4eb783af9702025-08-20T02:14:03ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362025-04-01300e1e910.4102/hsag.v30i0.26761243Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South AfricaHappiness P. Sabina0Ntsieni S. Mashau1Bumani S. Manganye2Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, ThohoyandouDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, ThohoyandouDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, ThohoyandouBackground: Multiple substances have been applied to neonates’ umbilical cords and have yielded detrimental results on neonates’ health status. Aim: The study aimed to explore and describe home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers. Setting: The study was conducted at Waterval community, a village under Dr J.S Moroka local municipality in Nkangala district in the Mpumalanga province. Methods: A qualitative exploratory, descriptive research study design was used to explore home-based care for neonates’ umbilical cords. The target population was family caregivers who had been caring for the umbilical cords of neonates at home. Non-probability and purposive sampling were done, and individual in-depth interviews were used for data collection. The sample size of 18 participants was determined by data saturation. Thematic analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Results: The following main themes emerged during data analysis: substances applied on the umbilical cord, beliefs associated with umbilical cord care, the effectiveness of health education provided on discharge from the community health centre and the healing process. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that various harmful substances were applied to the umbilical cords of neonates, and these practices were influenced by cultural beliefs. Contribution: The findings of the study brought to light that indeed, the application of substances that have not been recommended by the South African guidelines on neonates’ umbilical cord does lead to delayed umbilical cord separation and healing and has the potential to cause neonatal infections.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2676family caregiversneonatal home-based careneonatal careumbilical cord careneonates
spellingShingle Happiness P. Sabina
Ntsieni S. Mashau
Bumani S. Manganye
Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
family caregivers
neonatal home-based care
neonatal care
umbilical cord care
neonates
title Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
title_full Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
title_fullStr Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
title_short Home-based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
title_sort home based care for umbilical cords of neonates by family caregivers in mpumalanga province south africa
topic family caregivers
neonatal home-based care
neonatal care
umbilical cord care
neonates
url https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2676
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AT bumanismanganye homebasedcareforumbilicalcordsofneonatesbyfamilycaregiversinmpumalangaprovincesouthafrica