Traditional Nutritional Practices of Postnatal Women in Iran
Fatemeh Abdollahi (IR)
[Abdollahi] Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Context: Nutrition has an important role in restore women’ health during postnatal period. Much of the woman's behaviors during theis period including nutritional practice are strongly influenced by her cultural background. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the traditional nutritional practices (TNP) among the postnatal women in Gonbad Kavous city, northern Iran. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted between Aug to Oct 2014. Patients: Data was collected from 305 postnatal women. Interventions: Women attending primary health centers in rural and urban areas were recruited using randomized sampling method. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis and chi-square test. Main Outcomes Measure: A questionnaire on socio-demographic and TNP during postnatal period was administrated to the sample. Yes and no answers were summed up to calculate the total score ranging from 0 to 8. Results: The total number of traditional practices ranged from 2 to 8 with the mean being 6.46 ± 1.42. Majority of the women have eaten plenty of hot drinker (95.1%), have avoided eating spicy food (87.2%), have eaten plenty of sweaty fatty food (85.6%), have avoided eating some of smelly food such as onion and garlic (84.3%),have eaten yellow oil (Sari Yagh) (83.6%), have eaten red sugar (Ghezel Shekar) (76.1%), have eaten Bulmagh (Oil+ Suger+Rice powder) (73.1%) and have avoided eating red meat (61.3%). There was no significant difference between TNP and socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusions: TNP was quite high among postnatal women in this study. As information on safety of these practices is limited, health care practitioner should be aware of such practices and asked mothers about it.