INTRODUCTION:

It is a well recognized fact that children of today are the citizens of tomorrow.

A child is unique individuals; he or she is not a miniature adult, not a little man or woman. The prosperity of the nation depends upon the health of its future citizens. This is true especially for India, where this segment constitutes about 40% of the total population. Children with a sound mind in sound body are essential for the future development of the country.¹

In India accounts for 24% of all under-five children deaths occur globally. Although India has achieved impressive gains in child survival over the last two decades at the current pace of the country is unlikely to achieve the millennium development goal which aims to reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. One of the determinants of child morbidity and mortality is the child rearing practices. Socio-economic environment, nutrition and health status play a synergistic role that can alter growth and development of a child. The reasons usually cited for the poor state of infant and child health in India are inadequate neonatal care, insufficient breastfeeding, malnutrition, low immunity and high incidence of communicable diseases.²

Child rearing (CR) refers to bringing-up of children by parents or parent substitutes. It consists of practices that are grounded in cultural patterns and beliefs. It is probably the most challenging responsibility for a mother during her child’s infancy. Successful child rearing is essential for the child’s overall development and realization of self-esteem. As the primary care giver for infant, mother is responsible for ending to all the needs of the infant. In India, other elder members of the family also contribute to child care. The important components of child rearing are maternal activities that promote the children physical, intellectual, and psychosocial development so that they may grow up to express their full potentials. Mother is responsible for attending to all needs of the infant. The major domains of childrearing during infancy are feeding, meeting the needs of cleaning and protection, including prevention of accidents and injuries, providing appropriate infant stimulation and monitoring growth and development. ³

Child rearing practices are a major determinant of morbidity status of infants. Most important of these are the feeding practices. Breastfeeding during infancy is of particular importance because it is fundamental for survival, growth and development and health and nutrition of infants. Breast feed is the first fundamental right of the child. Inadequate and faulty practices of feeding newborns and children also results in under nutrition as reflected by their anthropometric measurements. According to an analysis, breastfeeding was identified as the single most effective preventive intervention, which could prevent 13- 16% of all childhood deaths in India. Adequate complementary feeding between the age of 6 and 24 months could prevent an additional 6% of all such deaths.⁴

The child rearing practices depend on the traditional beliefs and practices. Healthy beliefs and practices lead to a healthy child. The study was conducted to explore to the traditional beliefs and practices that surround a new born care which help in identifying further areas from newborn care. 42% of newborn were bathed on the day of birth. The 71.3% mothers followed risky feeding practices and 30.9% supplementary feed or delaying first feed. These practices are seen mostly in low socio economic settlement.⁵

The Millennium study has reported that 59% mothers gave honey, sugar or animal milk to the newborns, 26 % gave skin massage to child before bath with mustard oil. 10.8% mothers had discarded colostrum before initiating breast-feeding. The rates of initiation of breast-feeding were 57.9% within one hour and 85.4% with-in 24 hour.⁶

Paudel Dillee Prasad, Giri Sebananda. (2014)⁷ conducted a community based cross-sectional study among lactating mothers on breast feeding practices and associated factors in Bhaktapur District of Nepal. Total 333 lactating mothers having a child less than 6 months were interviewed using pretested questionnaire with her written consent. Analysis was performed in Statistical Package of Social Science-13 version applying appropriate statistics. Results were presented in tabular and narrative forms. The results found that majority 76.6% were 20-30 years. Almost 83% were Hindus, 25.8% illiterate, 62.8% house-wives and 53.5% from joint family with low economic status. About 48% had a baby of 2-4 months, 86% avoided prelacteal feeding, 87.1% fed colostrums, 27.9% fed the first milk within half an hour and 55% practiced exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months. Child’s age, education, religion, occupation, family type and knowledge level were significant (p < 0.05) factors affecting to breast feeding. The conclusion is despite the high proportion of women initiated breast-feeding early after birth, the prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months was very low and a large portion had poor practice of breast feeding.

Chandreshakhar T Sreeramareddy (2013)⁸ conducted a cross-sectional study in immunization clinics Pokhara city Westren Nepal. The sample size 240 mothers were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaire. Major findings of the study were found out 140 (58.3%) planned home deliveries and 100 (41.7%) mothers who had unplanned delivery. (62%) deliveries had skilled birth attendant present. 53 (22.1%) were applying mustard oil to umbilical cord. 16 (10.8%) mother did not feed colostrum to their babies whereas Initiation rate of breast feeding were 34.6% within 1 hour and (65.4%) within 2 hrs.

Joseph Nitin, Unnikrishnan B. (2013)⁹ conducted a rearing practices were a major determinant of nutritional and health status of infants. The Objectives were to find out infant rearing practices in the study area. A longitudinal study was conducted on a 194 infants. Information on rearing practices and anthropometric measurements were recorded every month for a period of 1 year. The results are only 67 (34.5%) newborns breast fed within half an hour of delivery. Demand feeding was practiced by 169 (87.1%) mothers. Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) for 6 months was practiced by 81 (41.7%) mothers. Bottle feeding was seen in 7 (3.6%) cases. Weight gain during infancy was found to be increased when infants were EBF for 6 months and weaned with semi-solid and solid diet alone in the following 6 months. Four (2.1%) infants were malnourished. Oil massage before bath was practiced by 189 (97.4%) mothers. Over 50% mothers practiced oil application to eyes or ears of infants. Delayed initiation of bath (beyond 1week) was seen in 15 (7.7%) cases. Faulty rearing practices need to be corrected in order to improve the health status of infants.

Objectives:

1. To assess cultural child rearing practices among women in a selected rural community, Ludhiana, Punjab.

2. To find out the relationship of cultural child rearing practices among women with selected demographic variables.

3. To prepare guidelines for enhancing knowledge of women regarding healthy cultural child rearing practices.

Assumption:

Educated women had more knowledge regarding healthy cultural child rearing practices.

METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach:

A Quantitative research approach was adopted to accomplish the objectives of the study to assess the cultural child rearing practice among women of selected rural community, Ludhiana, Punjab.

Research Design:

Non- experimental exploratory research design was used to assess cultural child rearing practices among women of selected rural community, Ludhiana, Punjab.

Research Setting:

The present study was conducted in Paddi Village which is rural community area of Ludhiana. The village Paddi is approximately 28 Km from INE G.T.B.S (C) Hospital, Ludhiana. The total population of village Paddi is 6,000. This village comes under community health centre of Dehlon, Ludhiana, Punjab. Most of the houses in this village are pucca houses. Means of communication like telephone, newspaper, post-office, PCO/STD and internet are available in this community area. The means of transportation of this village are roads.

Target Population:

The target population of study was women who had children age group (0-5 years) in Village Paddi Ludhiana, Punjab.

Sample and Sampling Techniques:

In present study, the sample of 100 women was selected from Village Paddi, Ludhiana, Punjab. A purposive sampling technique was used in this study to select a group who was representative of the population under study.

Development of Research Tool:

A Semi - Structured Interview Schedule was prepared to assess cultural child rearing practices among women. The tool was developed after thorough review of literature and in consultation with experts in the field of Research and Nursing.

Description of Tool:

A Semi - Structured Interview Schedule was used. The tool was having the following sections:

Section -1: Socio-Demographic variables consists of age of women, type of family, education, occupation, type of family, number of children and source of information.

Section-2: Semi- Structured Interview Schedule. This tool was to assess the cultural child rearing practices among women having children age group 0-5 years. It consists of 27 questions which includes Semi Structured Interview Schedule which is further divided under categories immediately after birth, cord care, breast feeding, immunization, baby care, weaning, toilet training, health.

Criterion Measure:

The child rearing practices of each area was assessed by frequency percentage method.

Reliability of tool:

Reliability of Semi- Structured Interview Schedule tool was confirmed by Inter-rater method. It was found to be 1. Hence, the tool was reliable.

Data Collection Procedure:

The data was collected in the month of March, 2015 from women by using Semi- Structured Interview Schedule from the women of village Paddi, Ludhiana, Punjab. Before staring the data collection procedure formal permission was obtained from the SMO Community Health Centre Dehlon after explaining need and purpose of research study. Verbal consent was taken from women of village Paddi, Ludhiana, Punjab and they were explained about the purpose of the study. Semi- Structured Interview Schedule was used to collect the data from 100 subjects by using purposive sampling. They were also assured that their responses will be kept confidential and used for research purpose study. The same process followed throughout the data collection period.

Plan of data analysis:

Analysis of data was done in accordance with the objectives of the study. The data analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULT FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION:

Demographic Characteristics:

· Maximum 43% women were in age group of 25-40 years.

· Majority of 65% women were from nuclear family.

· As per religion, maximum 89% women belonged to Sikh religion.

· Majority of 41% women studied up to primary education.

· As per occupation, maximum 72% women were house wives.

· Majority of 31% women had one child.

· With regard to source of information 65% women got information from family members/ relative.

Objective 1: To assess cultural child rearing practices among women:

· 100% women were following cultural child rearing practices.

· Maximum 73% women were following religious ceremony after birth of child and 22% were performing bhoj ceremony.

· 100% women hang the materials outside door of mothers because of happiness for a male child and majority of 78% women hang Sreenh leaves.

· Maximum 83% women were not being allowed the mother and baby to go outside home after delivery, 63% women were not being allowed for 1 month 8 weeks. 61% women were not being allowed to prevent complication of post natal period.

· Majority of 53% women did not give bath to baby immediately after birth because 36% women believed that child might be sick and 17% women gave bath after 2 days whereas 47% women gave bath to baby immediately after birth to remove blood from child.

· Maximum 78% women dressed a newborn in old cloths, 58% women preferred new clothes after 1 month 8 days and 65% women preferred new clothes after bhoj ceremony.

· Majority of 93% women were following ghurti practices after birth of child because women believed that child accept same nature of the person, 42% gave honey to child and 55% believe that ghurti practices was offered by grandparents.

· Maximum 89% women believed in evil eye, 24% women used black thread around the neck whereas 82% women protect the child from evil eye.

· Most of 97% women tied black thread around baby’s waist to protect child from evil effect.

· Maximum 92% women kept iron objects under the bed sheet of child after birth to protect the child from evil effect whereas 36% kept knife and water at head end side.

· Maximum 71% women applied applicant on cord stump whereas 52% applied desi ghee and 54% applied to remove umbilical cord.

· Majority of 85% women preserved umbilical cord, 79% women preserved in clothes and 41% preserved due to family beliefs.

· Majority of 67% women did not give colostrum to new born and did not start breast feeding immediately after birth, 46% gave cow’s milk because cow’s milk is lighter than other milk. 43% women started breast feeding after 3 days of birth.

· Maximum 88% women continued breast feeding, 34% continued for 3 years whereas 12% women did not continue breast feeding to child, only 6% continued for 1-2 months.

· Majority of 87% women gave bottle feed to child because child did not satisfy with breast milk.

· 100% women gave immunization to the baby on schedule date. 59% women did not know about immunization schedule whereas 7% women had knowledge about immunization schedule.

· 81% women did not apply anything on BCG scar whereas 19% apply on BCG scar to heal the wound and 11% applied desi ghee on BCG scar.

· Most of 96% women gave massage to baby before bath. 35% gave with Johnson baby oil and 65% women believed that it help to strengthen the muscles of baby.

· Majority of 82% women applied kajal in eyes of baby, 38% believed that kajal used to increase size of eyes and 42% women use kajal as an ash of tava.

· 100% women started supplementary feeding whereas 53% women start at the age of 6 month.

· 100% women gave toilet training to child whereas 89% women start at the age of 2-3 years.

Objective 2: To find out the relationship of cultural child rearing practices among women with selected demographic variables:

· According to age, mean was higher (18.71) in age of women <25 years and least (18.27) in age group >60 years. Age of women had no impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

· According to Type of family, mean was higher (18.58) who belonged to nuclear family and least (18.49) among those who belonged to joint family. Type of family had no impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

· According to Religion, mean was higher (19.78) who belonged to Hindu religion and least (13.50) among those who belonged to Muslim religion. Religion was found to be statistically significant at p<0.05 level. Religion had impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

· According to Education, mean was higher (18.96) among those educated up to senior secondary and least (18.36) was obtained by illiterate, graduation and above graduation respectively. Education had no impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

· According to Occupation, mean was highest (20.33) who had business and least (18.15) was obtained by service holder. Occupation had no impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

· According to Number of Children, mean was higher (19.39) who had three children and least (18.06) was obtained by more than three children. Number of Children had no impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

· According to Source of Information, mean was higher (18.75) who had exposure to family member/relative and least (17.91) among those exposed to internet. Source of Information had no impact on cultural child rearing practices among women.

CONCLUSION:

In present study, maximum women were following healthy cultural child rearing practices. With regard to demographic variables, maximum women belonged to 25-40 yr and were having up to primary education. Most of women were housewives and belonged to Sikh religion. Maximum women had two children and lived in nuclear families. Most of women got information from family/relative of family whereas religion was found to be statistically significant at p<0.05 level, none of the other variables were found to be statistically significant related with cultural child rearing practices among women.

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Received on 01.02.2017 Modified on 29.03.2017

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2017; 5(3): 315-319.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2017.00064.3