There is now evidence of the efficacy of umbilical cord cleansing with topical chlorhexidine from one trial in Nepal, and an additional trial now underway in Sylhet District, Bangladesh, will be completed by 2009. Assuming the efficacy of umbilical cord cleansing with topical chlorhexidine is confirmed by this second trial, a rapid transition from research to programmatic introduction will be needed. This study will introduce chlorhexidine through routine channels of distribution on a small scale, to gain experience and information that will facilitate the introduction of cord cleansing with topical chlorhexidine into widespread use. The research question addressed is: What are appropriate service delivery strategies for delivering chlorhexidine for cord cleansing to rural households, including systems for procurement and distribution, channels for sale or delivery of the commodity (e.g., traditional birth attendants, drug stores), and channels of communication for promoting correct and timely use of umbilical cord cleansing with topical chlorhexidine. Principal Investigator: Peter Winch (JHSPH) Local Principal Investigator: Shams El Arifeen (ICDDR,B) Co-Principal Investigator: Abdullah Baqui (JHSPH)
Co-Investigators:
Luke Mullany
Saifuddin Ahmed
Ahmed Al-Kabir
Syed Moshfiqur Rahman
Nabeel Ashraf Ali
Rashed Shah
Ishtiaq Mannan | 
