Abstract:
Background: Neonatal mortality accounts for two-thirds of all infants death.Newborn care is influenced by cultural practices prevalent in an area apart from medical & economic causes. Objective: To document cultural practices prevalent in this area. Methodology: Rural community based cross – sectional study was conducted between 1 st Jan 2011 to 31 st March 2012. All full-term pregnant women who have delivered a live baby between 01-01-2011 to 31-12-2011 were included in the study. Information was collected in their home only after taking consent. Results: 220 post-natal mothers were interviewed. 79 % were institutional deliveries. Of 220 mothers delivered, 83 % wiped & covered the body before cutting the cord, 91 % used a sterile cloth to clean the eyes, 98.64 % used sterile instruments to cut the cord, 90 % applied something to the stump of the cord, 88 % babies were breastfed within1 hour, 88.64 % babies were given prelacteal feeds, 91.8 % mothers practiced applying kajal to the eyes and putting oil in the ears. Conclusion: Though hospital deliveries,initiating breast feeding have increased, cultural practices of giving pre-lacteal feeds, putting oil in the ears, applying kajal to the eyes, have not changed much. Behavioralchanges regarding cultural practices can be brought by health education
