Evaluation of the Acceptability, Safety and Utility of Skin-to-Skin Care in the Community in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India

As part of a community-based approach to promote essential newborn care in Shivgarh Block of rural Uttar Pradesh in India, caretakers, many of whom have few resources such as blankets and clothing available for thermal control of their newborn, are encouraged to provide skin-to-skin care (STSC). Prior to the study, this practice was essentially unknown in the community, but initial reaction to the use of STSC for newborns was exceedingly positive.

Successful introduction of STSC for newborns, as part of the aforementioned intervention trial on the impact of essential newborn care promoted through community mobilization and behavior change communications, now provides the unique opportunity to:

• document the process of adaptation, introduction, and uptake of STSC of newborns in the community
• evaluate the acceptability and safety of the approach, including perceptions of benefits (medical and social) and potential problems
• describe the association of use of the approach with improved essential newborn care practices, including breastfeeding, prevention and management of hypothermia and reduced risk for serious infections and mortality

Co-Investigators:

• JHSPH: Vishwajeet Kumar; Abdullah H. Baqui; Peter Winch; Mathuram Santosham
• King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, India:  Shally Awasthy; JV Singh;  Ranjana Yadav;  Vivek Singh, MSW;  Pramod Singh;  Saroj Mohanty

Publications:

Darmstadt GL, Kumar V, Yadav R, Singh V, Singh P, Mohanty S, Bharti N, Gupta S, Gupta A, Baqui AH, Santosham M. Introduction of community-based skin-to-skin care in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. J Perinatol. 2006 Oct;26(10):597-604.