Comparison of Postpartum Beliefs and Practices among Badu Women in Arish City &Women in Mansoura City

Abstract

Background: Post-partum period is one of the most important stages for the mother-child dichotomy, and has been influenced by multiple cultural beliefs and practices. Aim:The aim of this study was to describe and compare postpartum beliefs and practices among Badu women in Arish City &women in Mansoura City Methods: Study Design: Descriptive comparative study design was utilized in this study. Study setting: The study was carried out in two districts of Arish city & two villages in Mansoura city during the period from15 August 2014 to 15January 2015.Subjects of the study: A purposive sampling of 170 women who were divided into two equal groups, Badu group and Mansoura group. Tool: A structured interview questionnaire schedule which consists of three parts, general characteristics, obstetrical history and beliefs & practices of women during puerperium. Results: The present study results revealed that the mean total practice score is significantly higher in Mansoura group (29.31±3.07) than in Arish group (26.62±1.86), Mansoura group shows a significant higher percentage of positive and neutral state than Arish group while there was no significant difference between mean total practice score and general characteristics of women in both group. Conclusion: Mansoura group had positive and neutral practice more than Arish group, Arish group had negative practices more than Mansoura group and there was no relation of the practical behavior to general characteristics and obstetrical history. Recommendation: Undertaking Information/ Education and Communication programs to raise awareness of the women, health provider, family member and society about wrong beliefs and practices during postpartum in order to correct it.