Community based study on cultural practices on rest, diet and hygiene among mothers after delivery in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Background

The traditions and cultural practices on lack of proper and adequate nutrition in right and inadequate proportions,

maternity care and risk of infections due to unhygienic personal care practices plays an important determining

factor for high morbidity and mortality. On the other hand, there could be good and safe cultural practices in

maternity care.The objective of this study was to explore the cultural practices on rest, diet and hygiene among

mothers after delivery in rural areas of Ramanagara district Karnataka.

Methods

The community based, cross sectional, descriptive and exploratory study was done in selected villages among

mothers who has baby of less than two years irrespective of their childbirth order. Direct interviewing of subjects at

their door steps for necessary and relevant information collected using the pre-tested, semi open-ended

questionnaire. Data was analysed in SPSS software version 23.

Results

Nearly 60% of the mothers completed their first childbirth and 61.6% of the babies were aged less than 12 months.

Nearly 50% of subjects took rest for less than 30 days and 25% took rest for more than 180 days. 52.8% started

attending work between 31 to 180 days post childbirth. Strict vegetarian diet was the nutritional habit among 46%.

Nearly 20% of total subjects did not avoid any food item. The prevalence of use of disposable type of sanitary

pads only and both reusable types were 13.8% and 1.6% respectively. The use of sanitary pads has no relationship

to their educational or occupational status.

Conclusion

The cultural practices during postpartum period on rest, diet and hygiene were beneficial to the health of the

mothers in the community. The village level health workers play a good role in continuation of healthy, beneficial

cultural practices by good motivation to the family members immediately after delivery.