AI Article Synopsis
- The study focused on sociocultural beliefs about care and feeding of low-birthweight (LBW) babies in two rural Nigerian communities.
- Data were collected from 60 mothers (30 with LBW and 30 with normal-birthweight babies) showing that most mothers did not access formal healthcare due to cost and inaccessibility.
- Many mothers believed exclusive breastfeeding was insufficient for LBW infants, leading them to use herbal mixtures and alternative feeding practices, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive interventions to improve neonatal survival.
Article Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to highlight the sociocultural beliefs and practices relating to the care and feeding of low-birthweight (LBW) babies in two rural communities in the south-west of Nigeria. Data from 60 mothers and their newborns and community care providers were collected using qualitative instruments. The 60 mothers [30 mothers of LBW and 30 of normal-birthweight (NBW) infants] were identified through key informants, snowball approach and information obtained from community healthcare providers. The mean weight at recruitment of the LBW and NBW babies studied was 1680 +/- 440 and 2990 +/- 450 g respectively. Only two of the 60 mothers in the study delivered in orthodox health facilities, because in most cases these facilities were unaffordable, inaccessible and incompatible with rural lifestyles/beliefs. Most of the mothers believed that exclusive breastfeeding was not adequate for the LBW babies, and so herbal mixtures believed to accelerate growth were given in addition to breast milk. The use of forced hand-feeding and feeding bottles was universal among the mothers of LBW babies in order to 'increase the volume of feeds the baby gets'. Herbal dressing was used for cord and anterior fontanel care, while the babies were kept warm by using extra clothing, lighted lanterns and shutting of the windows. Five (16.7%) LBW infants and 1 (3.3%) NBW baby died, while 12 (40%) LBW, compared with 4 (13.3%) NBW infants, were hospitalized during the study. The findings of this study serve to identify the cultural beliefs and values around the care of LBW infants. Interventions designed to improve neonatal survival must therefore, take cognizance of these beliefs, customs and practices, in order to ensure effective and proper care of the LBW infants.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6860800 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00101.x | DOI Listing |
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