Traditional Methods Applied to Newborn in Turkey; an Evaluatıon in Terms of Causes and Consequences

Abstract

Today, due to misapplications in the post-partum and neonatal period, many newborns are at high risk in terms of mortality and morbidity, especially in developing countries. Unfortunately, in spite of the development of modern medicine and the ease of access to information, the situation remains as a problem, which should be addressed as a priority for our country, which has rich cultural and traditional features. In this compilation created by scanning the national literature, various traditional methods applied by family members in the neonatal period in our country, the reasons for their practices and these practices’ effects on newborn health were examined. As a result, it was determined that some of the traditional methods applied to the newborn contribute to the child’s health positively, some have not any effect, and some have serious or fatal consequences. It is recommended to know the results of these methods applied in various regions and cultures in our country, to organize training programs for nurses, maternal-infant health workes and family members about the importance of this issue, to develop the scales on newborns about the traditional practices and to allow for the researches which examine the health status in the coming years of the children applied traditional methods in the neonatal period.