PANAJI
Traditional practices and beliefs like bathing a new born baby with ritualistic smoke or even applying kajal on an infant's face are harmful to the child's health and wellbeing, according to a study conducted by doctors attached to the Goa Medical College and the Directorate of Health Services.
The study said that favourable breastfeeding and newborn care practices such as early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, delayed bathing of newborn and optimal cord care represented some healthy traditional customs and beliefs, while certain practices such as postpartum confinement are potential threats to sound physical and mental health of the mother and need to be stopped.
The study was carried out in order to identify and explore various traditional beliefs and practices concerning newborn care and postpartum period among postnatal mothers at South Goa District Hospital, by doctors Preksha P Vernekar, Jagadish A Cacodcar, Minaxi Panandikar, Ira Almeida.
While Vernekar and Cacodkar are attached to the Goa Medical College, the latter two are officials of the Directorate of Health Services.
"Thirty per cent of the study respondents exposed their newborn babies to camphor (dhoop) after bath... This practice of exposure to holy smoke after bath should ideally be avoided as it may predispose the baby to respiratory infections, breathing difficulties or even allergies in later life," the study stated.
"In our study, strikingly, half of the study participants did not believe in seeking protection for their babies to ward off the evil eye. However, the other half applied kajal to their baby’s face," it added.
Kajal (kohl) can cause itching or irritation in the eyes or can lead to infections such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, or dacryocystitis while Fingernail trauma while applying kajal can cause conjunctival or corneal lacerations, it also said.
The study further said that over 42 percent mothers in Goa bury their child's umbilical cord, after it dries and falls off, in the courtyards of their respective homes.
"With regard to beliefs surrounding the umbilical cord, our study established that 42.5 percent of the mothers buried it in their courtyard after it dried and fell off," the research said.
It also said that mothers in Goa desisted from application of food substances such as oil, ghee, turmeric, and mother’s milk to the umbilical stump of the baby, calling it a harmful tradition.
"Harmful traditional cord care practices are one of the leading causes of neonatal sepsis in low and middle income countries. The baby’s umbilical stump is prone to bacterial infections owing to the underdeveloped immune system," the study said.
"The proclivity towards active umbilical cord care of a newborn could be utilised to inculcate positive behaviour change among the masses such as application of mild antiseptic to the cord stump and the skin around its base," it added.
The study was aimed at highlighting the need for awareness of health professionals about the popular traditional practices observed among postnatal mothers in order to eliminate possible harmful practices and reinforce beneficial practices for a healthy postpartum period for the mother.
