Prevalence of harmful traditional practices during pregnancy and associated factors in Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of harmful traditional practices during pregnancy and associated factors in Southwest Ethiopia.DesignA community-based cross-sectional study.SettingSouthwest Ethiopia.Participants667 women who were pregnant at the time of the study or gave birth 2 years prior to the study have participated.Outcome of the studyHarmful traditional practices during pregnancy (yes/no). Harmful traditional practices during pregnancy include abdominal massage, herbal intake or food taboos done on/by pregnant women without health professionals’ instruction.ResultsThe prevalence of harmful traditional practices in the study area was 37%, 95% CI (33.4% to 40.8%). The most commonly practised activities were abdominal massage (72.9%), intake of herbs (63.9%) and food taboos (48.6%). Monthly income (AOR=3.13, 95% CI (1.83 to 5.37), p<0.001), having had no history of child death (AOR=2.74, 95% CI (1.75 to 4.29), p<0.001), women with no formal education (AOR=4.81, 95% CI (2.50 to 9.23), p<0.001), women who had antenatal care (ANC) visits during their last pregnancy (AOR=0.24, 95% CI (0.10 to 0.59), p=0.002) and being multipara (AOR=0.47, 95% CI (0.27 to 0.80), p=0.003) were significantly associated with harmful traditional practices during pregnancy.ConclusionOur study showed that more than one-third of women in Southwest Ethiopia practised harmful traditional practices while they were pregnant. The practices were more common among primiparas, women who had lower educational and financial status, women with no ANC visits, and women with no history of child death. Health education should be given to the community about the complications of harmful traditional practices during pregnancy.

Patient–physician communication on herbal medicine use during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Among 111 studies, 102 studies were cross-sectional in design 27 61–161. Three studies used mixed-method approaches,162–164 and six studies had non-cross-sectional designs (ie, longitudinal and case–control),165–170 but reported cross-sectional data on HM use during pregnancy (online supplemental appendix 6).…”

“…Three studies used mixed-method approaches,162–164 and six studies had non-cross-sectional designs (ie, longitudinal and case–control),165–170 but reported cross-sectional data on HM use during pregnancy (online supplemental appendix 6). Regarding the geographical distribution of included studies, a majority of them were conducted in Africa 66 69 77 81 82 89 91 95 98 100 101 105 106 115 116 119 121–123 129 132–135 137–140 143 144 146 150 153 156 158–164. Lastly, 21 out of 111 studies presented findings related to pregnant women’s disclosure of HM use to their healthcare providers 27 70 73 83 85 86 91 109 110 115 117 122 125 126 129 133 142 149 155 160 164…”