Abstract
Background: Delayed umbilical cord clamping is highly recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a practice that needs to be adopted by midwives. The recommended time for delayed umbilical cord clamping is 1 minute after birth or once the cord has stopped pulsating. Practising delayed umbilical cord clamping does not interfere with the essential immediate care of the newborn. The WHO’s recommendations are based on delayed umbilical cord clamping’s benefits for newborns living in low-resourced settings with limited or no access to iron-enriched foods. There is intensive evidence that delayed umbilical cord clamping is beneficial for both the mother and baby. Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine midwives’ knowledge of delayed umbilical cord clamping in MOUs in Gauteng. Based on the study’s findings, recommendations were made for midwives working in MOUs regarding delayed umbilical cord clamping. Methodology: The research design for the study was quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and contextual in nature. A purposive sampling method was applied to the study population of 150 respondents. After approaching 325 midwives, 150 midwives were willing to participate. Once written consent had been obtained from the prospective respondents, they received a self-report questionnaire for the researcher to obtain data. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were checked and validated. Ethical clearance was obtained from the university, the department of health, and maternity obstetric units. Ethical principles were also adhered to throughout the study. Data analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to organise the data and attach meaning to the study’s findings. Validity and reliability were adhered to throughout the data analysis process. Results: Of the 150 midwives who participated in the study, 68 (45.3%) answered correctly when asked about delayed umbilical cord clamping. However, the results...
M.Cur. (Nursing Sciences)