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A Chlorhexidine Product for Umbilical Cord Care
Presenter: Ms. Mutsumi Metzle, Commercialization Officer, PATH

A community-based, cluster-randomized trial conducted in Nepal demonstrated that applying 4% chlohexidine solution to umbilical cords within 24 hours of birth resulted in a 34% reduction in neonatal mortality. Currently, a 4% chlorhexidine solution for umbilical cord care is not available in any country. PATH has been working to develop and introduce a 4% chlorhexidine solution for use during home births in order to reduce neonatal mortality in low-resource settings. This effort began in Bangladesh and will eventually be scaled up globally. To maximize efficiency in developing and introducing the chlorhexidine product, PATH utilized a parallel approach. PATH first developed product specifications and transferred them to a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company that was willing and able to manufacture and introduce a high-quality product at a reasonable price. The product specifications are now ready to be transferred to other countries, which most likely will shorten future product development efforts. Simultaneously, PATH implemented a product attribute study to evaluate preferences of potential users and service providers regarding containers and applicators, resulting in selection of a container that minimizes contact by hands. Barriers to product adoption were addressed through formative research by project partners and continue to be addressed through operations research. Over the near term, we will refine our product introduction strategy with the aim of launching the product in 2010. This parallel approach facilitates development of a product based on user preferences and will significantly shorten the time required for a chlorhexidine product to come to market in Bangladesh and globally thereafter.

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