Evidence · Randomised trial
Effect of sunflower seed oil emollient therapy on newborn infant survival in Uttar Pradesh, India: A community-based, cluster randomized, open-label controlled trial.
- Comfort and nursing care
- Infection
- Late-onset sepsis
- Medical
- Nursing
- Postnatal and transitional care
- Skin care
Summary
Community-based cluster randomised trial in 276 clusters in rural Uttar Pradesh, India, comparing family-applied sunflower seed oil emollient therapy throughout the neonatal period with usual care (typically mustard oil massage). Over 26,000 newborn infants were enrolled, with neonatal mortality as the primary outcome. Universal promotion of sunflower seed oil did not reduce overall neonatal mortality, although adherence to exclusive use was low. Secondary analyses suggested mortality reduction in very low birth weight infants, supporting further research on emollient therapy for infants with compromised skin barrier function.
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