ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS

We conducted this study to determine traditional methods that women living in the center of Nicosia are aware of and apply in the maternal and infant care in the postpartum period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study had a descriptive design. According to the results of the 2011 census, the universe of research consisted of 11,879 married women from the center of Nicosia. Our study included a total of 372 women. A questionnaire developed by researchers was used. The data were collected between September 1 and December 31, 2015, by the researcher visiting homes and interviewing women personally. A written approval from the Ethics Committee was obtained.

RESULTS

The study showed that 91.94% of the women applied the traditional methods on themselves and 92.2% on their babies in the postpartum period. It was also identified that there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the application of any kind of traditional practices on themselves depending on the age group, their educational status, and health status. The level of significance was set at 0.05.

CONCLUSION

It was determined that the majority of women applied traditional practices in the maternal and infant care in the postpartum period.