A study on traditional beliefs and practices in newborn care among mothers in a tertiary health care centre in Vijayapura, North Karnataka.

Abstract

Culture is defined as a shared system of beliefs, values and behavioral expectations that provide social structure for daily living. Not all customs and beliefs are harmful. Some of them have positive values while others may be of no role or positively harmful for neonate’s health in various forms like physical, psychological, social development. The objective of the study was to explore the traditional beliefs and practices in new born care. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at post-natal ward of BLDEU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura from June 2015 to July 2015. A total of 200 mothers were interviewed and data was collected after obtaining the consent.