Traditional Practices Adopted by Jordanian Mothers When Caring for Their Infants in Rural Areas

Abstract

Background: Traditional practices are commonly present within the Jordanian society, especailly those concerned with infant's care. Some of these practices might be harmful and thus health professioanls are required to substitute these practices with safe and healthy ones. The goal of this study is to determine the traditional practices adopted by Jordanian mothers when caring for their infants in rural areas. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study design using qualitative method was utilized in this study. A Purposive sample of 30 mothers was recruited from four rural regions in outskirts of Amman the capital city of Jordan. Results: Mothers had traditional infant's care practices pertinent to bathing of babies, including the salting, swaddling, care of the umbilical cord and jaundice. Conclusion: Traditional practices are still common in Jordan; some of these behaviors can cause health risks. While health consequences of some of the traditional practices are still not clear, health professianls, especially nurses, are required to intervene by changing policies and education.

Traditional neonatal care practices in Jordan: A qualitative study

“…This practice was the most commonly reported cultural practice in our study. Similar findings have been previously reported in two Jordanian studies (Abuidhail, 2014;Al-Sagarat & Al-Kharabsheh, 2017).…”

“…This practice was the most commonly reported cultural practice in our study. Similar findings have been previously reported in two Jordanian studies (Abuidhail, ; Al‐Sagarat & Al‐Kharabsheh, ). Our findings were consistent with those reported from Turkey, in which swaddling involved wrapping neonates with the legs straightened and the hips and knees extended (Alparslan & Demirel, ).…”

“…Approximately 90% of infants in the USA are swaddled during the first few months of life (Oden et al, ). Similar findings have been reported in Jordan, indicating that most participants swaddle their newborn babies from the first day after birth (Abuidhail, ; Al‐Sagarat & Al‐Kharabsheh, ; Jarrah & Bond, ). Keeping the newborn baby in the house to protect him/her from cold air or from the evil eye, and rubbing the baby's skin with oil, are also traditional practices reported in Bangladesh (Winch et al, ).…”

Effectiveness of an Educational Program Regarding Postpartum Care on Women’s Practices in Primary Health Care Centers at Amara City /Iraq

“…Mothers and their newborn babies are at highest risk of dying during the early neonatal period, especially in the first 24 hours following birth and over the first seven days after delivery it estimate about 45% maternal mortality, (50%) newborns who die do so in the first 24 hours after birth, and 65% Maternal mortality , and(75%) neonatal deaths occur within one week of birth (2) Postpartum period, or puerperium, starts about an hour after the delivery of the placenta and includes the following six weeks. Postpartum care should include the prevention and early detection and treatment of complications and disease, and the provision of advice and services on breastfeeding, birth spacing, immunization and maternal nutrition (3) .Traditional practices are usually derived from the relations with the environment and the attitude of early humans toward nature .These practices usually develop over time and by trial and error in most cases (4) .Mothers in purperium period may be suffering from illness, heaviness, inability to speak, crying, loss of appetite, high fever, bruises, delusions and somniloquy. The example for the practices of mothers use to guard against puerperal fever including not leaving the household for 40 days, not being alongside another mother, not being left alone with the infant for 40 days and 40 nights, keeping a talisman and the Quran at hand, putting scissors or a knife under their pillow and hanging onions or garlic near their bed (5) .Every society and country has its own traditional belief and practice related to postpartum care, most of the practices like rituals and belief, some of the practices are beneficial to the mother and children (6) .…”

Determination of Traditional Methods Used by Mothers to Wean Their Infants from Breast- Feeding

“…Anne bu süreçte çocuğundan ilgiyi eksik etmemeli ve çocuğun meme ayrılığı ile anne ayrılığını aynı anda yaşamaması için çocuktan ayrı kalmamalıdır (10). Bebeğin zevk alarak emdiği memenin tadının değişmesi için uygulanan yöntemler ve bebeğin aniden anneden ayrılması, anne ile bebek arasındaki güven bağını sarsarak çocukta olumsuz psikolojik etkiler oluşturabilmektedir (5,9,(11)(12)(13).…”