A cross sectional study of newborn care practices in Gilgit, Pakistan.
J Neonatal Perinatal Med
; 6(1): 69-76, 2013.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24246461
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this article is to explore the traditional newborn-care beliefs and practices and to identify factors that affect newborn health, aiming to design an appropriate, culturally-sensitive and acceptable intervention to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.METHODS:
A cross sectional study was conducted in the district of Gilgit in Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was administered to 708 mothers who gave birth to a live child in the past one year. Descriptive and inferential analysis was performed to identify socio-economic and health care factors associated with newborn care practices.RESULTS:
Illiterate mothers were more likely to use harmful newborn care practices, while those seeking health care from private sector were less likely to use harmful newborn care practices. Ninety-four percent of the newborns were given a bath soon after birth, likelihood to be 2 times more amongst illiterate mothers. Cord application was a very common practice, mostly with matti (crashed apricot seed), and a majority of the mothers reported newborn massage generally with mustard oil. The administration of colostrum as the first feed was relatively common in the study area. Twenty-seven percent of mothers reported giving pre-lacteals; from which prominent feeds included salt water (44%) and cow's milk (26%). Initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth was (71%), while (29%) reported to breastfeed their newborn within 24 hours. Thirty-seven percent newborns were exclusively breastfed for six months.CONCLUSION:
This study underscores the existence and predominance of risky practices in newborn care; that stresses the need for health education programs to ensure safety of the newborn.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Aleitamento Materno
/
Cuidado do Lactente
/
Comportamento Materno
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article