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Customs and beliefs relating to the mother and infant in an area of rural Andhra Pradesh.

This article concerns the difficulties in delivery of health care to mothers and newborns in a rural area of Andhra Pradesh India because of cultural resistance. Adherence to customs and traditions is a suspected factor in the health of mother and newborn baby. This study examines pregnancy-birth beliefs in this particular area to determine which customs are possibly harmful to the mother and child. 2 sets of villages were surveyed for this paper; 1 set has well entrenched MCH projects; the control set has minimal facilities for the mother and newborn. A questionnaire was administered to all expectant mothers in the study area which asked for details on family unit feeding and weaning practices customs and beliefs interconceptional history antenatal natal and postnatal periods. Direct observation during home visits was also used to gather information. Cultural resistance to modern medical techniques and facilities is not seen as a primary difficulty. Results show that reliance on tradition is not bound by socioeconoimc class. Customs are categorized as harmful benevolent and/or neutral. Practices such as belly branding as well as the use of unknown caustics on the umbilical cord are harmful and discouraged as being possibly dangerous by community health workers. Other practices include making an area cleaner or encouraging the mother and infant to rest and these are encouraged. Benevolent practices such as the burning of incense and the provision of a galactogogue an herbal preparation for the expectant mother are seemingly neutral practices which increase the mothers feeling of wellbeing. The results of the study will be used to integrate folk customs with modern medicine to help provide consistent medical care for mothers and neonates.