Neonatal tetanus: mode of infection, prevalence, and prevention in southern Sudan.

Neonatal tetanus affects 1 in every 82 and kills 1 in every 110 infants born in the town of Juba, southern Sudan. It is also an important cause of death in adult life both in southern Sudan and in many other regions of the developing world. One vehicle of infection could be the fine string-like roots used to tie the cord. To prevent neonatal tetanus governments and aid-giving agencies should distribute to women and midwives kits containing a sterile blade, a sterile ligature, two or three sterile adhesive dressings for the umbilical stump, and two or three sterile swabs.