Acceptability of CDKs
tetanus, cord infections
STERILE, TETANUS
CDK acceptability was based on the following contexts:Perceived NeedMost TBAs were aware of the need for hygienic deliveries and some of the inherent dangers associated with unhygienic births, especially with regard to HIV transmission, cord infections, and tetanus in mothers and newborns.Kit ComponentsAll components of the kit were acceptable to TBAs except for the cord clamp, which TBAs were either unaccustomed to or had reservations about. This observation was made during study sensitization, and sterile cord ties were added to the birth kits.Cultural and Religious ConsiderationsThere was no cultural or religious bias against the use of kit components. CDKs were acceptable to TBAs from diverse religious and cultural/tribal groups.Operational considerationsThe CDKs conformed well with TBA practices, which they found useful for each item. The function of each item was understood by the TBAs. A noteworthy attribute of the CDK was convenience. All items needed for a clean delivery were in a single purse.Economic considerationsAlthough TBAs highlighted CDK’s convenience and hygiene promotion, many expressed concerns about the additional cost to their clients, who may be unable to pay extra costs for the kits. At the time of the study, the cost of each kit was about $2.20 when kit materials were sourced from the local market. There were no commercially available clean delivery kits on the market. The content of delivery kits varied greatly between hospitals within the study area, and many routinely provided clean delivery items as part of delivery care.