1St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University, Korea. 2Nursing College of the Catholic University, Korea.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to confirm the efficient umbilical cord care of healthy newborns in nursery. In order to determine the efficient care, the time of umbilical cord separation and the skin condition of periumbilical area were evaluated. The data were collected in sample of 529 normal, healthy newborns of C hospital in Seoul, from September 1st, 1999 to January 16th, 2000. The babies were randomly selected and allocated into four groups-alcohol swab/tub bath, alcohol swab/partial bath, natural dry/tub bath, natural dry/partial bath- by the methods of care. The mothers of babies were also surveyed by questionnaire about general characteristics. The data were analyzed by SAS program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The average gestation period of newborns was 39 + 3 weeks. The average birth weight was 3.27Kg. In gender of babies, boys were 51.7% and girls were 48.3%. The 65% of newborns were born normal vaginal delivery, 35% were C-section. The feeding methods were 55.3% of the babies fed by mixed type, 22.9% by breast, and 21.8% by bottle. There was no significance among four groups by general characteristics.
2. The average time of umbilical cord separation was 8.27 days(SD=2.3). The time was no difference significantly among four groups(F=1.68, P=0.17).
3.The prevalence of the umbilical care complication did not show differences among four groups( 2=3.93, P=0.27). In conclusion, Nurses have preferred the traditional alcohol swab/partial bath method in care of newborns. But there was no difference among the ways to take care of umbilicus according to this study. The way to naturally is more efficient due to reduce the time and expense in umbilical care for normal babies of nursery. This also matched the change in approach to healthy population from intervention to nonintervention way. This could be suggested in education for normal and healthy babies care at home and nursery as a useful way. Endly, the further study about bacterial colony and infection rate at umbilicus by ways of care is needed.
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