Determination of traditional beliefs and practices about self care of postpartum women Postpartum dönemde yapi{dotless}lan geleneksel i̇nanç ve uygulamalar

Objective: This study was conducted in order to explore traditional beliefs and practices done during postpartum period by the women who gave vaginal births (vaginal delivery) at a maternity hospital of a province located in Middle Anatolian Region. Material and Methods: During a month when the research was performed, a total of 206 women had vaginal delivery at the maternity hospital. 102 women were recruited because some women had just given birth and some women did not want to answer the questions. The data of the study were collected using Personal Information Form designed by the researchers and Form to Determine Traditional Practices of Mother Care during Postpartum. Chi-square test was used for the analysis of the data. Results: It was found out that mean age of the participant women was 24.5±5.0 years. 42.2% of them were literate and had primary school degree and 48% lived in extended family. It was noted that 52.9% of the women wrapped their abdomen with a piece of cloth after vaginal delivery, 81.4% were not left alone at home and 89.2% did not have sexual intercourse within the 40 days after delivery. It was explored that 72.5% of women hung Koran on the wall of their bedroom, 63.7% did not turn off the lights in the room at all, 70.6% did not let the women who had menstruation enter the room and 52% kept male clothes in their room in order to prevent incubus. It was observed that women aged ≥29, had primary school degree and who gave 3 births kept male clothes in their room more compared to other groups. Conclusion: Most of the participant women regard traditional practices important and some of these practices continue during postpartum period. According to this result; health care providers have the responsibility protect and develop to community health should know the traditional beliefs and practices of that community and should interventions for this. Copyright © 2014 by Türkiye Klinikleri