Postpartum and Newborn Care - A Qualitative study

Authors

  • Meera George Travancore Medical College Hospital, Kollam, Kerala
  • Avita Rose Johnson St John’s Medical College, Bangalore
  • Rosalind Clara Basil St John’s Medical College, Bangalore
  • Sunayana N Murthy St John’s Medical College, Bangalore
  • Twinkle Agrawal St John’s Medical College, Bangalore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2018.v30i02.012

Keywords:

Cultural Beliefs, Cultural Practices, Postpartum Care, Newborn Care

Abstract

Community-based postpartum care of mothers and newborns is vital to achieve mortality reduction. This qualitative study explored cultural beliefs and practices regarding postpartum care of mothers and newborns in rural Karnataka. Focus group discussions with newly delivered mothers and their caregivers in a rural maternity hospital, and in-depth interviews with community level health workers revealed cessation of the practice of withholding colostrum and the barbaric practice of branding, but found persisting harmful cultural beliefs and practices like withholding nutritious foods considered “hot” or “cold”, inadequate postpartum ambulation, separating husband and wife for up to a year or more after the birth, application of various substances to the umbilical stump and eyes of the newborn and giving pre-lacteal feeds. Antenatal and postpartum mothers, their caregivers, including elders in the family should be targeted by community level health workers for counseling and behavior change.

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Published

2018-06-30

How to Cite

1.
George M, Johnson AR, Basil RC, Murthy SN, Agrawal T. Postpartum and Newborn Care - A Qualitative study. Indian J Community Health [Internet]. 2018 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Oct. 12];30(2):163-5. Available from: https://iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/871

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Short Article

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