Comparison of olive oil and dry-clean keeping methods in umbilical cord care as microbiological.

The application of olive oil is one of the traditional practices used in umbilical cord care in Turkey. The study was conducted experimentally, so as to compare microbiologically the efficacy of olive oil use and keeping the stump dry. Data were obtained using a personal information form and an omphalitis follow-up form, as well as from cultures taken from the infants' umbilical cords. Cultures were taken from the neonates' umbilical cords at three different times. The Pearson chi-square test, student t test, percentages, and averages were used for statistical data analysis. The average time for separation is 9.46 days. For the control group, this period is 9.8 days, while for the study group, it is 9.1, lacking a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, when the cut-off point for umbilical cord detachment is set at 10 days, the cords of 71.6% of the neonates in the study group, compared with 55.6% of the control group, are observed to have separated before 10 days, representing a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). In all of the cultures collected, growth was noted in 35.9% of the study group and 33.3% of the control group. The correlation between the method used for the care of the cord and the total culture results was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Olive oil can be used in the umbilical cord care of neonates under appropriate conditions; we recommended that this investigation be repeated on expanded sample groups.

Family planning attitudes of women and affecting factors.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive research was conducted to determine the attitudes of women towards family planning and the factors affecting these attitudes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Universe of the study has been composed of women who are married and older than 15 years and living in Ankara Kale district. 300 women were included. Kale district is a low socioeconomical slum area of the capital city of Turkey. Questionnaire and Family Planning Attitude Scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: 38% of the women were in the 30-39 years age group and 66.7% of them were graduates of primary school. 73.3% of the women had information about some contraceptive method and 53% of them had used an effective method. Mean score taken from the Family Planning Attitude Scale was 120.11±13.8. The scores obtained from the scale were significantly higher in the women who were graduates of elementary school, whose husbands were graduates from high school and higher, who had heard about any contraceptive method and had been using some method and who had had 1-3 pregnancies (p<0.05). Economical status, family type, presence of a chronic disease, using regular medicine and smoking have not affected family planning attitude (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found that the attitudes of the women towards family planning were at a good level, nearly half of the women were using an effective method, and the level of education, number of pregnancies, unwillingness to have another child in the future, having information about contraceptive methods and using some contraceptive method had influenced family planning attitudes. In order to turn this attitude into practice with high rate, family planning education programs and consultancy services must be planned and implemented.

Potentially harmful traditional practices during pregnancy and postpartum.

OBJECTIVES: Culturally embedded attitudes and beliefs affect people's lifestyle and health. Traditional practices such as bathing the baby in salt water to prevent him from smelling bad, regarding pregnancy as a shameful situation, and concealing pregnancy, may cause harm. This descriptive study aimed at identifying potentially harmful practices of married women during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum, in Turkey. METHODS: The sample studied consisted of 121 women. A questionnaire was used to gather information during face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Eighty percent of the respondents were literate/primary school graduates, 45% had given birth at home. The most potentially harmful practices among women were swaddling (81%), dressing the baby with a sand-filled nappy ('holluk') (35%), and bathing the baby in salt water (40%). A relationship between traditional postpartum practices and demographic characteristics of women such as age, educational status, age at marriage and birth place was observed (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Turkish women still carry out certain traditional practices during and after pregnancy, some of which adversely affect them or their babies. It is important to gain an understanding of these potentially harmful customs and cultural beliefs so that health education programmes can be implemented that dissuade women from resorting to these practices.