PANAJI: A study of traditional beliefs and practices followed by mothers in Goa immediately after giving birth to find that 42.5% of them buried the navel cord on their yard after being dried and falling.
About 31.3% hiding cables in their homes, research shows, further highlighting the fact that most mothers do not apply replace with cable stumps.
Studies, which focuses on mothers at the South Goa District Hospital, throws light in considerable interests given to cultural practices related to the care of newborns.
Of the 80 participants, 22.5% observed the postpartum prison period from 40 days at home, with their newborns.
Some traditional practices adopted by new mothers to protect their babies from evil eyes including applying Kajal to the baby’s face, as well as the use of bracelets, black threads, bracelets and chains.
This research was conducted by Drs Preksha V Vernekar, Jagadish Cacodcar, Minaxi Panandikar and Ira Almeida, and published in the International Journal of Preventive, Curentive and Medicine Community.
As far as traditional practices related to newborn baby care, a large number of mothers use new / washed clothes for their babies (83.8%) and 72.5% bathe them five days after delivery.
It was also found that almost half of the study participants – 48.8% – it was recommended to be locked up with a baby in the hospital until the sixth day, post-shipping.
The researchers feel that mothers need to be educated about the consequences of the application of Kajal to the baby’s eyes, because it cannot cause itching or irritation, but can cause infections such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid), conjunctivitis (infection / membrane infection that lines the eyelids and eyeballs ), or dacryosistitis (tear bag infection).
Nail trauma while applying Kajal can cause conjunctiva or corneal lacerations, they said.
Other practices that are generally followed are massaging babies before bathing.
A total of 98.8% of respondents said that the baby was given a massage before bathing.
Other traditional practices that are still prevalent to expose the baby to the holy smoke (Dupa / Dhoop) after bathing, and exposing the baby to warm sunlight to ward off jaundice.
This study recorded a positive attitude of participants to the exclusive breastfeeding between the majority of women; 86.3% initiated breastfeeding in thirty minutes of birth, which was comparable to research conducted in India and elsewhere.
The researchers felt that health professionals must be aware of traditional practices followed by the community to provide culture and acceptable health care.
It has recommended that harmless practices, acceptable or even potentially beneficials observed during the postnatal period must be supported and are considered part of the country’s rich state culture, while dangerous practices must be avoided with health education given at the time of hospital dismissal and during posting – There are no visits for maternal and baby health checks.