title: Jordanian women's postpartum beliefs: an exploratory study.
abstract: This study was aimed to determine the beliefs among Jordanian women regarding 10 selected postpartum behaviours. Following Human Subjects approval, a descriptive quantitative questionnaire was administered to 40 postpartum women, 20 from two rural communities and 20 from two urban communities. The majority believed, incorrectly, in prolonged bed rest, that the baby's exhalation on the mother's breast can lead to infection, that kofaleyas (tightly secured wraps around the baby) do not harm newborns, that observation by others while nursing might 'steal' the mother's milk, and that a belt around the mother's abdomen will tighten muscles. The majority correctly believed that dieting affects breast-feeding. Most postpartum women could benefit from increased education about postpartum practices. Educational programmes can help women differentiate between helpful postpartum practices and those which might have adverse effects on the health of a mother and her newborn.
authors: Faculty of Nursing, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Samiha
authors: S
authors: Jarrah
authors: A Elaine
authors: AE
authors: Bond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007597:Jordan; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009790:Occupations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology