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Abstract
A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE CULTURAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES RELATED TO PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, AND NEWBORN CARE AMONG THE WOMEN OF THE KHASI TRIBE WHO EXPERIENCED HOME DELIVERIES IN MEGHALAYA
Elveera Synthia Pereira*, Cimil Babu and Smita Jose
ABSTRACT
A descriptive study was conducted among Khasi women who had home births in Meghalaya to examine their cultural beliefs and practices related to pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from 100 women. The study found that Khasi women have both positive and negative beliefs about pregnancy and childbirth. For example, they believe that cutting hair during pregnancy can cause birthmarks or cleft lip/palate, and that certain actions by the husband can cause abortion. They also have unhealthy beliefs, such as drinking ash water to help with placenta delivery and applying wood ash or burned cow dung to the cord stump to prevent bleeding after birth. Common tribal practices like (50%) women took fresh blood of cocks to increase blood in the body, during pregnancy, hair was pushed into the mouth for the expulsion of the placenta etc. Unhealthy practices like (85%) cut the umbilical cord with a bamboo stick during delivery and (20%) applied burned cow dung to stop cord stump bleeding etc. The study revealed that women of the Khasi tribe still have common cultural beliefs and practices and need to reinforce healthy cultural beliefs and practices.
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