Delivery attendants will administer 0.6% chlorhexidine solution every four hours until delivery (4 washes maximum) and one neonatal wash with the same solution. The control group will receive 200 ml of sterile physiologic saline solution. A total of 5000 women will be randomized in the hospital study, 2500 control and 2500 intervention. All women and infants will be evaluated 24 hours post delivery and at a 7-day follow-up. Women who delivered at home will also receive a 28 days post-partum assessment. Women will be carefully monitored for side effects to the dosage. In addition a community-based feasibility trial of 200 patients (100 CHX, 100 control) will be completed.