A cross sectional study of newborn care practices in Gilgit, Pakistan

J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2013;6(1):69-76. doi: 10.3233/NPM-1364712.

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.

Keywords: Gilgit1; Newborn care; bathing; cord care; feeding; practices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Breast Feeding / ethnology
  • Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data*
  • Colostrum
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Education
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Home Childbirth
  • Humans
  • Infant Care* / methods
  • Infant Care* / statistics & numerical data
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior* / ethnology
  • Mothers
  • Needs Assessment
  • Pakistan / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires