Peer review of manuscript submitted 28th April 2019: "Cultural and Clinical Implications of Cord Care Practices Among Women of Saki West Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria"

Background: Harmful cultural practices relating to cord care predisposes neonates and infant to morbidity and mortality in Oyo State, Nigeria. Aim: This present study aim to assess the cultural and clinical implications of cord care practices among women of Saki West, Oyo State, Nigeria. Method: Six-two (62) women were assessed and randomly selected in Saki-West Oyo State, Nigeria. Data analysis was done with SPSS 16.0 using the frequency tables and simple percentages. Chi-square was used to test the hypotheses at P < 0.05 level of significance. Results: The study shows that crude methods of cord care practices among rural women were insignificantly associated with poor educational background, beliefs, previous experiences, religious as well as occupation (p >0.05). Results also shows that ashes, saliva and salt (24.2%), ashes and saliva (12.9%) back of tree and salt (9.7%), blade of grass (9.7%), unprotected razor blade (19.4), and thread (66.1) among many remain predominant as current cord care materials. Conclusion: Rural women still uses traditional methods in caring for the cord which has implications for both neonatal morbidity and mortality. Community based intervention strategies that will be affordable and available should be the priority of policy makers for the community.