Child Rearing Beliefs and Practices Among Rural Mothers in South Kerala
- Author Dr Anaswara Karthika Padmini
- Co-Author Dr Girija. Viswanathan
- DOI 10.17605/O
- Country : India
- Subject : Community Medicine
Keywords : Child rearing practices, Mothers, India, Exclusive breast feeding, Immunization
Abstract
Background: Child rearing beliefs and practices are detrimental to the healthy upbringing of the child. Faulty practices can sometimes be harmful to the newborn. Thus child rearing beliefs practices are a major determinant of infant morbidity.
Objective: To find out the child rearing beliefs and practices among mothers in a rural village in the Kerala State in India.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study was done in the Nellanad Panchayath in the Trivandrum district in the state of Kerala, South India. 100 Mothers of children in the age group of one to three years were studied. Details regarding Socio-demographic profile, Feeding practices, Immunization, Cultural beliefs, Hygiene and Medication practices were collected by visiting the houses and conducting a survey, using the interview method. Analysis of the collected data were done using the trial version of SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.
Results: In the study, 99% mothers initiated breast feeding within four hours of delivery and 96% children received exclusive breast feeding in the first six months. While 10% mothers practiced self- medication for common ailments in children, 33% have used some kind of amulet for their children. All the children were fully immunized. Only 13 children have got at least one optional vaccine
Conclusion: The majority of the study participants are following proper child rearing practices. Although the proportion of mothers following faulty practices are less in this study, these practices needs to be further discouraged.
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