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OBJECTIVE：To understand the current status of clinical understanding of “prohibiting”“avoiding”“using caution ” in the application of TCM ，and to provide reference for standardizing the connotation and rational application of “prohibiting” “avoiding”“using caution ”of TCM. METHODS ：Based on the theory of “knowledge-attitude-behavior”，doctor-pharmacist questionnaires and patient questionnaires were designed on the basis of literature research and clinical practice. Through the “Tencent questionnaire ”platform，800 doctor-pharmacist questionnaires were distributed to nearly 300 medical institutions from 32 provinces（cities，autonomous regions ）and 800 patient questionnaires were distributed to public patiants who had used TCM nationwide by anonymous online method. After dimensionality reduction of the questionnaire from three dimensions of cognition ， attention and behavior ，the cognition ，attention and behavior of “prohibiting”“avoiding”“using caution ”in the application of TCM were evaluated by 10 points system. RESULTS ：A total of 703 doctor-pharmacist questionnaires were collected ，including 638 valid questionnaires with recovery rate of 87.9％ and effective rate of 90.8％；Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.90. A total of 644 patient questionnaires were collected ，including 621 valid questionnaires with recovery rate of 80.5％ and effective rate of 96.4％ . The cognition score of doctors and pharmacists to the terms of “prohibiting”“avoiding”“using caution ”in clinical application of TCM was （7.94±1.21），and that of patients was （5.64±1.54）. The score of doctors and pharmacists ’attention to the above terms was （9.47±1.15）（Spearman Rho correlation coefficient with cognition score was 0.077，P＞0.05），and the score of behavioral ability of patients was （7.01±1.71）（Spearman Rho correlation coefficient with cognition score was －0.021，P＞ 0.05）. The score of behavior ability was （7.43 ± 1.72） （Spearman Rho correlation coefficient with cognition score was 0.233，P＜0.01）. TCM textbooks （89.2％），trainingmeetings （66.5％） and herbal prescriptions （58.2％） were the main ways for doctors and pharmacists to learn the above taboos. Medical staff （74.2％）and internet （52.5％）were the main ways for patients to understand the above taboos. CONCLUSIONS ：Doctors，pharmacists and patients pay more attention to the terms of “prohibiting”“avoiding”“using caution ”in the clinical application of TCM ，but their cognition and executive power were low. Clinical cognition of “prohibiting”“avoiding”“using caution ”in the application of TCM is relatively vague，and the corresponding clinical practice behavior is lacking. It is yet to establish clinical specialist consensus in the field of TCM and publicize it actively to improve the level of clinical rational drug use.
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Background: The aim of the study was to determine the degree of awareness and practice of proper menstrual hygiene management among women living in low-income neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Bizerta Lines, Karachi between January and June 2019. All women of reproductive age were included in the study. Amenorrheic, menopausal, or women on birth control were excluded from the study. Degree of awareness and current practices pertaining to menstrual hygiene management were assessed through pro-forma. The study tool collected the participant’s knowledge, awareness, and misconceptions about menstruation. The factors affecting the quality of life during menstruation of women living in poor socio-economic conditions were also observed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v.23) was used to analyze the collected data.Results: Of the 338 participants, 82.5% had no knowledge of menstruation prior to their first menstrual period. Only a minority of the women knew that the source of menstrual blood was the uterus while 41.4% of the women incorrectly claimed that the menstrual blood and urine were expelled from the same orifice. More than half of the participants used disposable sanitary napkins (55.5%). 65% of the participants changed the absorbent at least 1 to 3 times a day.Conclusions: Most of the participants used disposable sanitary napkins. However, the basic knowledge of female anatomy and physiology behind menstruation was poor among women.
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Objectives: A cross-sectional descriptive and community-based research was done in Alipurduar district of West Bengal to assess the existing beliefs and practices toward the foods during pregnancy. Methodology: A total of 170 respondents were selected randomly from Alipurduar district. The data were collected by the researcher with the help of pre-structure interview schedule. The collected data were arranged, analyzed, and interpreted to draw the conclusion. Results and Discussion: The study inferred that majority of the respondents (55.30%) from Alipurduar beliefs fully on eating papaya may cause a miscarriage, so it should be avoided and 58.82% of respondents were fully beliefs on taking milk with saffron, as saffron makes the baby fair skinned, whereas pomegranate and red apple may cause a baby of very bright and good complexion. Conclusion: Majority of the respondents (73.53%) have beliefs on prayer for preventing complications and for safe delivery. Mass awareness and preventive program about common prevalent diseases should be planned and launched in a location-specific manner in tribal areas. Proper coordination among the health workers and information, education, and communication activists of various institutional departments and disciplines are to be needed to create more effective awareness level among the tribal community for a real participatory development as mentioned in the Constitution of India.
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The research and development of classical prescriptions is an important way to promote the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and promote the modernization and internationalization of TCM. It is particularly important to summarize the historical development of the composition of classical prescriptions, so as to define their origin, taste efficacy and syndrome taboos. It is also the source to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the whole prescription. As a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal material, Lycii Cortex is widely used and has a good prospect for research and development. There are five prescriptions containing wolfberry bark in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Prescriptions(the First Batch). There are only a few modern literatures on the development of Lycii Cortex. Therefore, this paper will summarize the development of skeleton skin alias, origin, nature, taste, meridian, efficacy, syndromes and taboos in ancient books of the previous dynasties. Textual analysis found that Lycii Cortex was first recorded in the Fifty-two Pathogenic Prescriptions. Ancient books before the Han dynasty did not mention the Chinese medicinal material named " Digupi" . There are little differences in the contents about Digupi between modern literatures and ancient books of the previous dynasties. With the changes of the times, Lycii Cortex has been rarely used, with a fault inheritance, suggesting that there are still many potential efficacy indications for clinical application. In addition to the traditional Chinese medicinal specifications, ancient books also recorded the processing methods with liquorice soup, fried, roasted, children's stool, wine soaking and steaming.
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Background: The cultural beliefs, food taboos play a key role on women and child health in India. Those food practices and taboos directly impact on women and children health. Moreover, these are one of the causes for malnutrition in women and child; sometimes it also leads to death.Methods: The methodology of this study is qualitative study. The primary data collected in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh, through in-depth-interviews with the help of semi structured interview guides. The selection of the informants is based on simple random selection.Results: All informants are women and they all are home makers only. They not do participant any income generation activities. Seventy five percentages (75%) of the informants are lives in below poverty line, and twenty five percentages (25%) of women are in above poverty line.Conclusions: The cultural beliefs and practices play a role in the distribution of nutrition messages to the community. Those beliefs are affecting to the pregnant women and on their infants. It’s also affects to the community. Many of these beliefs and practices have been passed down for generations.
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Food taboos are commonly found among around all societies of the world. In every society, culture and beliefs influence the women eating patterns during pregnancy. In Indian society, most food practices and beliefs have emerged from deeply rooted traditions and customs of particular geographical area or culture. Objectives: The objectives of the present study were- 1. To study the prevalence of food taboos and social beliefs among pregnant women. 2. To find out the avoided certain food and reason behind it during the pregnancy. 3. To study the association between the demographic characteristic of pregnant women and food taboos. Methods & Materials: Participants of the study were pregnant 105 women aged 18 to 35 years of Harahua Primary Health Centre, in Varanasi District. The cross-sectional study design was used to obtain the objective of the study. The finding of the study revealed that most of the pregnant women (70.47%) use to avoid some foods during pregnancy. Papaya was the most common food, which was avoided by the pregnant women, and reasons for not consuming the papaya, is it cause were abortion and it is a hot food. The findings of the present study also revealed no association between food taboos and pregnant women demographic characteristics such as age, category, type of family, educational status, socio-economic status, number of pregnancy etc. It means in every type of family, educated women, as well as of high socio-economic backgrounds women use to belief on food taboos.
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The affective domain is not explicitly targeted during medical studies and poor skills in this domain may lead to conflict when dealing with patients. Reflective narratives are said to promote humanitarianism and professional development. We aimed to examine reflective narratives written by medical students in our institution for content relating to ethical and professional Attitude and Behaviour, Communication, respect for Diversity and Disability, and Empathy (the ABCDE paradigm). We were also interested in understanding how far the students enjoyed learning through the writing of narratives and in determining their perceived learning from the exercise. Volunteer medical students were introduced to Gibbs’ reflective cycle during a half-day workshop. After giving written informed consent, they submitted anonymous reflective narratives (online), based on an interaction that they witnessed between a patient and a doctor/student. The authors performed directed content analysis of the submissions, using predetermined codes pertaining to ABCDE. At the end of the study, the participants sent in their feedback through a questionnaire on the process and the learning acquired, if any. Twenty-six students volunteered and 15 narratives were submitted. The issues that had been identified were discussed with the students. Feedback was submitted by 12 students, who strongly felt that the writing of narratives enhanced learning about ethics, professionalism, communication, diversity and empathy. We conclude that reflective student narratives are a useful and enjoyable way of teaching students about issues in the affective domain that are not conventionally taught
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Background: Poor maternal nutrition adversely affects pregnancy and birth outcomes, particularly vulnerable are the rural women in a rural setting. A lactating mother‟s nutritional requirement should meet needs of self and that of an infant. In most rural communities this situation is further complicated by food taboos, consequently either adding to or leading to additional negative balance of nutrients. Aims: To assess the food practices and beliefs during pregnancy and lactation among women residing in a rural area of Bangalore urban district. Methods: Study was conducted during the period of January to March 2014 among the women residing under the Sarjapur PHC, Bangalore. Data was collected using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in Depth Interviews (IDIs). Thematic frame work approach was used for data analysis. Results: A total of four FGDs and twelve IDIs were conducted. Good practices included consuming green leafy vegetables, rice, bread, jowar, meat, egg and fruits like apple and mosambi. The practices which may potentially harm the health included avoidance of food items like ragi, papaya, mango and guava during pregnancy and reduced water consumption during the post natal period. Beliefs like “casting an evil eye” or “colour of the baby” had an influence on the food given to antenatal mother. Conclusions: The study found numerous food items which are nutritious and safe and available locally either restricted or denied thus making women (pregnant and lactating) and infants vulnerable. There is need for health education programs in rural areas regarding nutrition which will in turn improve the maternal and child health.
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Introduction: A qualitative comparative case study was conducted to compare and contrast food taboos and avoidance practices during pregnancy among Orang Asli or indigenous Temiar women in four distinct locations that represent different lifestyle experiences and cultural practices. Methods: Through snowballing sampling, a total of 38 participants took part in five focus groups: one group each in Pos Simpor and Pos Tohoi in Kelantan state, one group in Batu 12, Gombak in Selangor state, and two groups in a regroupment scheme (RPSOA) in Kuala Betis, Kelantan. All the transcripts were coded, categorised and ‘thematised’ using the software package for handling qualitative data, NVivo 8. Results: Variant food prohibitions were recorded among the Temiar women residing in different locations, which differ in food sources and ways of obtaining food. Consumption of seventeen types of food items was prohibited for a pregnant Temiar woman and her husband during the prenatal period. Fear of difficulties during labour and delivery, convulsions or sawan, harming the baby (such as foetal malformation), and twin pregnancy seemed to trigger many food proscriptions for the pregnant Temiar women, most of which have been passed on from generation to generation. Conclusion: The findings of this study confirm that beliefs about food restrictions are strong among those Temiar living a traditional lifestyle. However, those who have adopted a more modern lifestyle also preserve them to some extent.
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A amamentação é uma das maneiras mais eficientes para melhorar o estado nutricional, imunológico, psicológico e o desenvolvimento da criança. Hoje em dia o percentual da prática de amamentação diminuiu, pois vem sofrendo influências socioculturais, acompanhado pela entrada das mulheres ao mercado de trabalho. O leite materno é, indiscutivelmente, a melhor e mais adequada fonte de nutrientes, fatores de proteção e fortalecimento emocional para o lactente durante o seu primeiro ano de vida. Especialmente quando oferecido como alimento exclusivo, até os seis meses de idade, desempenha papel fundamental nas condições ideais de saúde da criança e da lactante, com repercussões favoráveis por toda a vida. Este trabalho visou descrever as dificuldades encontradas pelas puérperas em relação à amamentação no período pós-parto. Utilizou-se uma entrevista com 60 puérperas em uma maternidade de União da Vitória, 2008. O questionário incluiu: idade materna, estado civil, escolaridade materna, tipo de parto, cor da mãe e perguntas referentes ao aleitamento materno. Os resultados encontrados apresentaram: 52,0% das puérperas que tiveram parto do tipo cesárea tiveram mais dificuldades para amamentar; 74,2% das puérperas de cor branca acreditam na existência de leite fraco; e 31,5% das puérperas acreditam que a ingestão de água aumenta a produção de leite. Analisando os dados foi visto que as puérperas têm dificuldades em relação à amamentação e precisam de orientação de um profissional da área de nutrição atuante na equipe multiprofissional.