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Current Neonatal Skin Care Practices in Four African Sites

Amare, Y; Shamba, DD; Manzi, F; Bee, MH; Omotara, BA; Iganus, RB; Adejuyigbe, EA; ... Hill, ZE; + view all (2015) Current Neonatal Skin Care Practices in Four African Sites. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 10.1093/tropej/fmv053. Green open access

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Abstract

Data for this study on skin care practices and emollient use in four African sites were collected using in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions and observations. Respondents were mothers, grandmothers, fathers, health workers, birth attendants and people selling skin-care products. Analysis included content and framework analyses.Emollient use was a normative practice in all sites, with frequent application from an early age in most sites. There were variations in the type of emollients used, but reasons for use were similar and included improving the skin, keeping the baby warm, softening/strengthening the joints/bones, shaping the baby, ensuring flexibility and encouraging growth and weight gain. Factors that influenced emollient choice varied and included social pressure, cost, availability and deep-rooted traditional norms. Massage associated with application was strong and potentially damaging to the skin in some sites.Given the widespread use of emollients, the repeated exposure of newborns in the first month of life and the potential impact of emollients on mortality, trials such as those that have been conducted in Asia are needed in a range of African settings.

Type: Article
Title: Current Neonatal Skin Care Practices in Four African Sites
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmv053
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmv053
Language: English
Additional information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Tropical Pediatrics following peer review. The version of record Amare, Y; Shamba, DD; Manzi, F; Bee, MH; Omotara, BA; Iganus, RB; Adejuyigbe, EA; (2015) Current Neonatal Skin Care Practices in Four African Sites. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmv053.
Keywords: Africa, emollient, newborn, skin
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1471150
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