Abstract

Neonatal tetanus, a completely preventable disease, still contributes to morbidity and mortality in Akwa Ibom State, despite the fact that there should have been a global eradication many years back. It therefore still constitutes a public health problem. The aim of this work is to highlight the importance of continuous educational actions for pregnant women, mother and midwives with a view to preventing neonatal tetanus and promoting the improvement of the quality of life and health of the mother-child binomial, family members and other care givers. This work is a review of delivery practices and intervention measures in a traditional birth attendant’s home where four babies delivered at the home presented at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital with features of neonatal tetanus within a three week period between late June 2005 and July 2005. The intervention measures which included teaching clean delivery practices, proper cord care, involvement of the TBA in counseling sessions and postnatal checks eliminated the incidence of neonatal tetanus in the home. These interventions, when applied to other TBAs will help eliminate neonatal tetanus.

Key words: Cluster, Lay mid wife, newborn, tetanus.

Abbreviation

Antenatal care, ANC; Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery, MBBS; Central Nervous System, CNS; Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, FWACP; Left against Medical Advice, LAMA; No abnormality detected, NAD; Packed cell volume, pcv.