Community Misconceptions and Nutritional Awareness Among attendants of admitted Postpartum Women in a Tertiary Care Centre
Keywords:
Postpartum Nutrition, Misconceptions, Cultural Beliefs, Maternal Health, Dietary RestrictionsAbstract
Background: The postnatal period is a sensitive phase where adequate nutrition and rest are crucial for maternal recovery and neonatal well-being. In many Indian communities, postpartum dietary practices are influenced by cultural norms and advice from elder family members, which may result in food restrictions, inadequate nutrition, and delayed recovery. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to postpartum nutrition and to identify prevalent misconceptions and taboos influencing dietary behaviors among admitted postpartum women and their relatives. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over three months in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a tertiary care centre. A total of 310 admitted postpartum women and accompanying relatives were enrolled through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) in MS Excel. Results: Mothers-in-law were the primary decisionmakers during the postpartum period (52%). Although 67% received dietary counselling during pregnancy and 75% were aware of postpartum nutritional needs, misconceptions remained common. Overall, 79% believed certain foods must be avoided. Frequently restricted foods included sour items (perceived delayed wound healing), cold foods (fear of respiratory infections), spicy foods (believed to cause infant diarrhea), and certain pulses/vegetables (thought to cause flatulence). Despite contradictions with medical advice, 53% perceived these practices as beneficial. Conclusion: Traditional beliefs continue to strongly influence postpartum nutrition, occasionally limiting intake of essential foods. Culturally sensitive counselling that addresses misconceptions without undermining community values is necessary to improve maternal nutritional practices.
References
1. WHO. WHO recommendations on postnatal care of the mother and newborn. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
2. Black RE, Victora CG, Walker SP, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middleincome countries. Lancet. 2013;382(9890):427-51.
3. Singh D, Charyulu RN. Postpartum dietary practices and rituals among rural women of India: A review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(9):4560-6.
4. Kaushal M, Aggarwal R, Sharma M. Cultural taboos and myths in postpartum nutrition among Indian women. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019;6(5):2071-6.
5. Gupta N, Kishore J. Food restrictions during pregnancy and lactation: A study from urban slums of Delhi. J Trop Pediatr. 2018;64(1):65-72.
6. Saldanha LS, Buback L, White JM, et al. Policies and programs to improve maternal nutrition in India: A systematic review. Matern Child Nutr. 2021;17(1):e13047.
7. Dewey KG, Vitta BS. Strategies for improving maternal nutrition. USAID; 2013.
8. Lobo R, Chandra B, Nidhi M. Role of family in determining postpartum dietary behaviors in India. Indian J Public Health. 2021;65(4):398-404.
9. Patil R, Kumar R. Mothers-in-law and postpartum decisionmaking: a barrier to evidence-based practices. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2017;6(12):5368-72.
10. Sharma S, Singh A. Postpartum nutrition and cultural practices in North India: Evidence and gaps. J Nutr Health Sci. 2022;9(2):101-6.
11. Victor R, Baines SK, Agho KE, Dibley MJ. Determinants of postpartum dietary practices among mothers in developing countries. Nutr Rev. 2019;77(9):591–602.
12. Ramachandran P. Maternal nutrition and the influence of culture. Indian J Med Res. 2020;152(5):474–7.
13. Karmakar RN, Majumdar R. Misconceptions related to postpartum diet among women in rural Eastern India. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5(7):2832–6.
14. Bhandari S, Banjara MR. Food taboos among postpartum women in Nepal. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2021; 19(2):318–23.
15. Casey GJ, Thorne L, Phuc TQ, et al. Micronutrient deficiencies in postpartum women: global trends and interventions. Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(6):1023–34.
16. Singh S, Patel A. Effect of dietary restrictions on maternal nutrition postpartum: An observational study from Gujarat. Indian J Nutr Diet. 2021;58(4):371–7.
17. Subedi N, Banerjee A. Postpartum activity restrictions among Indian women: cultural norms vs evidence. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2019;69(3):207–13.
18. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Recovery after childbirth: guideline. London: RCOG; 2017.
19. Fakharzadeh A, et al. Cultural tailoring of maternal health education improves nutrition adherence: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:655.
20. Raj A, et al. Family-centered maternal nutrition interventions in LMICs: lessons for implementation. J Glob Health. 2021;11:04039.
