Cultural Practices and Infant Mortality in Cross River State, Nigeria: A Sociological Perspective

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges confronting the government in Nigeria today is the need to reduce infant and child morbidity and mortality in order to achieve the sustainable development goal 2030. Infant mortality is generally used to describe the death of infants or babies that were born alive but died before their first birthday. There is generally marked inequality in infant death between developed and developing nations but also within them. Culture has been found to influence the health of the people especially in developing countries where majority of the people are traditionally oriented and superstitious. Several cultural values, beliefs and practices have considerable influence on the health behaviour of Nigerians, which has been adopted by pregnant women, and carried over to their children resulting in infant mortality. These cultural beliefs and practices are some of the major reasons for the low patronage of antenatal health care and orthodox medicine. People have remained bound to cultural beliefs and values. People tend to view events of diseases and deaths from the cultural and supernatural perspective, thereby causing mothers to stick to traditional and cultural practices in health matters. The paper is purely theoretical and relied heavily on secondary data and relevant literature on the issue under consideration. The paper calls for adequate awareness and enlightenment especially in areas where cultural practices are very ingrained and where infant mortality is high due to these practices.

Traditional food taboos and practices during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and infant care of Zulu women in northern KwaZulu-Natal

“…A number of traditional food taboos adopted by pregnant women are carried over to their children after delivery. These practices include not giving children certain foods [ 40 ]. Food taboos also have a strong effect on infant feeding and undermine optimal infant feeding practices [ 41 ].…”

“…Food taboos also have a strong effect on infant feeding and undermine optimal infant feeding practices [ 41 ]. The belief of restricting children from eating protein-rich foods such as meat and eggs, because it will cause children to steal as meat and eggs are normally stolen by dogs, deprive children of these nutritious foods, which may lead to malnutrition [ 40 ]. The World Health Organization [ 42 ] reported that 45% of global deaths among children under 5 years of age are attributed to under-nutrition, which is approximately three million deaths each year.…”

Paliativos pediátricos en África

“…En estas sociedades, en las que existe una fuerte creencia en la brujería y el destino, a la enfermedad se le suelen atribuir tres causas: natural, sobrenatural y mística. Siempre que un niño está gravemente enfermo se busca la interpretación de la enfermedad (Undelikwo, 2018).…”

Traditional Food Taboos and Practices during Pregnancy, Postpartum Recovery and Infant Care of Zulu Women in Northern KwaZulu-Natal

“…A number of traditional food taboos adopted by pregnant women are carried over to their children after delivery. These practices include not giving children certain foods [35]. Food taboos also have a strong effect on infant feeding and undermine optimal infant feeding practices [36].…”

“…Food taboos also have a strong effect on infant feeding and undermine optimal infant feeding practices [36]. The belief of restricting children from eating protein rich foods such as meat and eggs, because they will steal, deprive children of these nutritious foods, which may lead to malnutrition [35]. World Health Organization [37] reported that 45% of global deaths among children under ve years of age are attributed to under-nutrition, which is approximately three million deaths each year.…”