Patterns and Determinants of Essential Newborn Care Practices in Rural Areas of Northern Ghana

Table 2

Traditional newborn care practices.

Newborn care practice	Frequency (𝑛)	Percentage (%)
Instrument used to cut the umbilical cord
New blade	367	90.8
Old or unboiled blade	2	0.5
Scissors	29	7.2
Others	6	1.5
Total	404	100.0
Material used to tie cord
Thread	259	64.1
Cord tie	78	19.3
Cord clamp	13	3.2
String	21	5.2
Others (specify)	33	8.2
Total	404	100.0
What was applied to cord
Nothing	1	0.2
Oil/shea butter	230	56.9
Methylated Spirit	97	24.0
Shea butter with powder	58	14.4
Ointment	4	1.0
Total	404	100.0
Time baby was wrapped
Less than 5 minutes	81	20.0
5 to 10 minutes	206	51.0
More than 10 minutes	108	26.7
Unknown	9	2.2
Total	404	99.9
Timing of newborn’s first bath
Soon after delivery	109	27.0
1 to 6 hours	269	66.6
More than 6 hours but less than; 24 hours	18	4.5
More than 24 hours	5	1.2
Cannot tell	3	0.7
Total	404	100.0