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Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Traditional health beliefs and practices during child bearing and rearing stages are still prevalent among communities. Even though these practices do not have scientific value, people still adhere to them for various reasons. Nurses working with child bearing families must be aware of cultural beliefs and practices the families follow. The Millennium Development Goal-4 (MDG-4) is aimed at reducing under five mortality by two third and MDG-5 to reduce maternal mortality by three fourth between 1990 and 2015. Objective: To assess the beliefs and practices of women related to maternal and newborn care. Methods: A survey approach with a descriptive study design was used. Using purposive sampling technique 300 women with newborn were selected. Results: The findings revealed that the women had more positive beliefs and healthy practices and less negative beliefs and unhealthy practices. A significant relationship was found between the beliefs and the practices. Conclusion: Though the movement away from traditional beliefs and practices is already being taking place, predominance of unhealthy traditional practices related to maternal and newborn care stress the need for health awareness packages for improving these practices.

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