Comparison Between Alcohol Application Versus Dry Cord Care

Abstract

Objective: To compare Alcohol with dry umbilical cord care in terms of mean umbilical cord separation time in neonatal period at Divisional headquarters teaching hospital, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.

Study Design: A Randomized control trial study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Neonatal Unit Divisional Headquarters Teaching Institute, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir from June,2019 to February, 2020.

Materials and Methods: After taking permission from Ethics Committee of our institute, data was collected on a pre-designed Performa with a well informed consent was taken from the mothers along with the demographic details. About 100 Neonates who were admitted in well baby NICU for minor problems were included in this study. Two groups were formed and each neonate was allotted group randomly. One group received Alcohol, ( Methylated spirit: isopropyl alcohol 70%) while other group received general instructions to keep the cord clean, dry and well exposed. The cord separation time was noted in terms of days of life at which the cord was shed.

Results: The mean age of neonates in Alcohol group was 2.50 - 2.29days and in dry cord was 2.78 -2.06 days. In Alcohol group there were 30(60%) male and 20(40%) female babies and in dry cord care babies, we had 26(52%) male babies and 24(48%) female babies. We found that the mean time for separation of cord in Alcohol group was 7.42- 0.54 days and in dry cord care group was 9.62 - 0.64 days. However, time for separation of umbilical cord in Alcohol group was less as well as statistically significant, p-value < 0.001.

Conclusion: Application of Alcohol, (Methylated spirit: isopropyl alcohol 70%)  is superior to dry cord care in term of less cord separation time of umbilical cord.