Impact of clean delivery kit use on clean delivery practices in Beni Suef Governorate, Egypt

Objective: A major factor contributing to neonatal and maternal infections is unhygienic delivery practices. This study explores the impact of clean delivery kit (CDK) use on clean delivery practices during home and facility deliveries. Design: Kits were distributed from primary care facilities and mothers and birth attendants received training on kit importance and use. The study was designed as a cross-sectional cohort study. Raedat (community health workers) visited 349 women during the postpartum period to administer a structured questionnaire. Setting: The study was conducted from mid-March through mid-July 2001 in two rural areas of Ihnasia district in Beni Suef Governorate (Upper Egypt). Result: In bivariate analysis, CDK users in the home were more likely to report that the birth attendant had clean hands (P<0.001), washed/ wiped the mother's perineum (P<0.001), used a sterile cord tie (P=0.001), applied antiseptic to the cord after cutting (P<0.001), and used a sterile cord cover (P<0.001) as compared with non-CDK users. CDK users at the facility were more likely to report that the birth attendant washed/wiped the mothers perineum (P=0.049) and used a sterile cord cover (P=0.030) as compared with non-CDK users. Conclusion: In settings in which unhygienic practices during home as well as facility deliveries are prevalent, use of inexpensive CDKs can promote clean delivery practices.