Updated Recommendation
A new evidence synthesis was published:2022, WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience.
View latest version (2022)Bibliographic Info
Recommendation
Recommended in favor
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Moderate
Daily chlorhexidine (7.1% chlorhexidine digluconate aqueous solution or gel, delivering 4% chlorhexidine) 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 (30 or more neonatal deaths per 1000 live births). Clean, dry cord care is recommended for newborns born in health facilities and at home in low neonatal mortality settings. Use of chlorhexidine in these situations may be considered only to replace application of a harmful traditional substance, such as cow dung, to the cord stump