abstract: 'Background: Urbanization is occurring at a rapid pace, especially in

  low-income countries. Dhaka, Bangladesh, is estimated to grow to 50

  million by 2015, with 21 million living in urban slums. Although health

  services are available, neonatal mortality is higher in slum areas than

  in urban non-slum areas. The Manoshi program works to improve maternal,

  newborn, and child health in urban slums in Bangladesh. This paper

  describes newborn care practices in urban slums in Dhaka and provides

  program recommendations.

  Methods: A quantitative baseline survey was conducted in six urban slum

  areas to measure newborn care practices among recently delivered women

  (n = 1,256). Thirty-six in-depth semi-structured interviews were

  conducted to explore newborn care practices among currently pregnant

  women (n = 18) and women who had at least one delivery (n = 18).

  Results: In the baseline survey, the majority of women gave birth at

  home (84\%). Most women reported having knowledge about drying the baby

  (64\%), wrapping the baby after birth (59\%), and cord care (46\%). In

  the in-depth interviews, almost all women reported using sterilized

  instruments to cut the cord. Babies are typically bathed soon after

  birth to purify them from the birth process. There was extensive care

  given to the umbilical cord including massage and/or applying

  substances, as well as a variety of practices to keep the baby warm.

  Exclusive breastfeeding was rare; most women reported first giving their

  babies sweet water, honey and/or other foods.

  Conclusion: These reported newborn care practices are similar to those

  in rural areas of Bangladesh and to urban and rural areas in the South

  Asia region. There are several program implications. Educational

  messages to promote providing newborn care immediately after birth,

  using sterile thread, delaying bathing, and ensuring dry cord care and

  exclusive breastfeeding are needed. Programs in urban slum areas should

  also consider interventions to improve social support for women,

  especially first time mothers. These interventions may improve newborn

  survival and help achieve MDG4.'
affiliation: 'Moran, AC (Corresponding Author), ICDDR B, Reprod Hlth Unit, Dhaka,
  Bangladesh.

  Moran, Allisyn C.; Wahed, Tasnuva, ICDDR B, Reprod Hlth Unit, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  Moran, Allisyn C., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Int Hlth, Baltimore,
  MD USA.

  Choudhury, Nuzhat, BRAC, Res \& Evaluat Div, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  Khan, Nazib Uz Zaman; Alam, M. Ashraful, ICDDR B, Int Ctr Diarrhoeal Dis Res, Social
  \& Behav Sci Unit, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  Rashid, Sabina Faiz, BRAC Univ, James P Grant Sch Publ Hlth, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  Karar, Zunaid Ahsan, World Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh.'
article-number: '54'
author: Moran, Allisyn C. and Choudhury, Nuzhat and Khan, Nazib Uz Zaman and Karar,
  Zunaid Ahsan and Wahed, Tasnuva and Rashid, Sabina Faiz and Alam, M. Ashraful
author-email: 'allisynmoran@gmail.com

  nuzhat.choudhury@yahoo.com

  nazib@icddrb.org

  kzunaid@gmail.com

  tasnuva@icddrb.org

  sabina@bracuniversity.ac.bd

  aneeloy@yahoo.com'
author_list:
- family: Moran
  given: Allisyn C.
- family: Choudhury
  given: Nuzhat
- family: Khan
  given: Nazib Uz Zaman
- family: Karar
  given: Zunaid Ahsan
- family: Wahed
  given: Tasnuva
- family: Rashid
  given: Sabina Faiz
- family: Alam
  given: M. Ashraful
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-9-54
eissn: 1471-2393
files: []
journal: BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
keywords-plus: 'SYLHET DISTRICT; NEONATAL-MORTALITY; CHILDHOOD DEATHS; PRETERM INFANTS;

  SKIN BARRIER; HEALTH; INFECTIONS; MANAGEMENT; IMPACT'
language: English
number-of-cited-references: '40'
orcid-numbers: 'Ahsan, Karar/0000-0001-7630-288X

  Rashid, Sabina Faiz/0000-0003-0916-2631

  Alam, Neeloy Ashraful/0000-0001-7034-1095

  Moran, Allisyn C/0000-0002-4826-1475'
papis_id: 733e52d08eb2876874ff15bb49ebbeaa
ref: Moran2009newborncare
researcherid-numbers: 'Ahsan, Karar/ABB-2160-2020

  '
times-cited: '48'
title: 'Newborn care practices among slum dwellers in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a quantitative
  and qualitative exploratory study'
type: Article
unique-id: WOS:000208106900054
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '16'
volume: '9'
web-of-science-categories: Obstetrics \& Gynecology
year: '2009'