Cord care

Clean, dry cord care is recommended for newborns born in health facilities, and at home in low neonatal mortality settings.
Daily chlorhexidine (4%) application to the umbilical cord stump during the first week of life is recommended for newborns who are born at home in settings with high neonatal mortality (neonatal mortality rate >30 per 1000). Use of chlorhexidine in these situations may be considered only to replace application of a harmful traditional substance