Table 6 Quantitative and qualitative findings on skin-to-skin contact after delivery by country
Country | Percent placed skin-to-skin (STS) after delivery | Barriers to skin-to-skin after delivery |
|---|---|---|
Ethiopia | 13% had STS on the day of delivery (8% for home and 26% for facility) [31] | No information |
Ghana | 8% had any STS in the first 24Â h (10% for home and 6% for facility births) [11] | |
Malawi | No information | Exhausts mother Mother not clean enough for breastfeeding [16] |
Mali | 2% placed on the mother’s chest* [29] | No information |
Senegal | No information | Mother’s sweat could pass illness [26] |
Tanzania | 1% placed on the chest after the cord is cut (home births) [21] | May hurt the babies’ cord, chest or bones Few opportunities due to other activities Mother is in pain/has problems after birth STS is not practiced at the facility STS is not necessary [27] |
Uganda | 2% had STS* [24] | Baby/mother is dirty and could transmit disease [30, 35], particularly HIV through the umbilicus [39] May hurt the cord [39] Baby would get cold if not wrapped [30] Difficult for mother to rest and invasion of privacy [39] |