Traditional Practices of Mothers’ About Child Health

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the traditional practices by mother regarding child health and their traditional practices to be effective socio- demographic factors.

Method: The sampling of the descriptive and cross-sectional study was constituted by120 mothers, who applied to policlinics and services of Ege University Child Hospital between February-April 2008; has a child with 0-6 years of age. As data collection tool, contained 12 items of “Questionnaire Form for Traditional Practices Interest in Child Health” constituted by reviewing the relevant literature was used. Obtained data were evaulated in SPSS program.

Results: It was detected that mothers most commonly use the methods of Muslim call to the ear of newborn (81.7%), having someone to pray for devil-eye (75%), putting blue bead on the baby to avert the devil eye (58.3%), salting the baby to prevent the baby from smelling bad (49.2%), having someone pray for the baby crying continuously (46.7%), putting amulets and pray papers to avert the devil eye (45.8%), and using yellow cloths and covers in an effort to prevent jaundice (38.3%).

Conclusion: As a result; it was detected that traditional practices are still widely used in child health but these traditional practices in general is not harmful to child health was seen to be practices. It was seen that educational level, economic status and properties of their living area of mothers affected the traditional practices in child care.