Hazardous traditional practices during postnatal care in low resource setting: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Postnatal care has a positive impact on maternal as well as child health. This

period is culturally as well as traditionally sensitive; which is clearly reflected in

WHO 1998 theme "Pregnancy is special, let’s keep it safe".

Objective

To determine the existing postnatal care practices in rural community of

Vantamuri primary health centre (PHC).

Materials and Methods

A total of 390 women who delivered in the three sub centres of Vantamuri PHC,

Belagavi district between 1st November 2009 to 31st October 2010 were

interviewed at home. Predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to

collect the information.

Results

It was found that 29% women discarded colostrums. Only 26% women

initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour and 47% women applied some traditional

mixture on the umbilical cord.

Conclusion

Postnatal care is not free from hazardous traditional practices in the study area.