Patterns and predictive factors of unhealthy practice among mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal and newborn care in Southern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude, patterns and predictive factors of unhealthy practice among mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal and newborn care in Southern Ethiopia. Results Among the total participants, 29.0% mothers performed at least one unhealthy practice during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal period and newborn care. This study identified the following harmful practices such as food prohibition (53.2%), home delivery (41.5%), discarding colostrum (18.6%), application of substance on the cord stump (12.1%), delayed breast feeding (28.4%), prelacteal feeding (43.0%) and early bathing (49.3%). Being grand multiparous (AOR = 2.528, 95% CI 1.037–6.166), being illiterate (AOR = 7.611, 95% CI 2.375–24.396) and lack of awareness on the effect of unhealthy practice (OR = 4.673, 95% CI 1.163–18.774) were independent predictors of outcome variable.

Keywords

• Unhealthy practice
• Patterns
• Magnitude
• Predictors
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth