Perinatal harmful cultural practices and its associated factors in Ilu Galan district, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/mhsr.v2i2.2090Keywords:
Harmful Cultural Practices , Perinatal Period , Ilu Galan , EthiopiaAbstract
Background: Deeply rooted traditional habits during the perinatal period significantly threaten the health of mothers and infants. In the Ilu Galan District of Ethiopia, research on this issue remains limited. Consequently, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence and factors associated with perinatal harmful cultural practices in the area.
Method: Between February 3 and March 11, 2024, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 participants selected via two-stage sampling. Data collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires were entered into EpiData 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary Logistic regression identified significant factors at p<0.05, with model fit confirmed by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.
Results: The prevalence of harmful cultural practices was 43.20% (95% CI: 38.40-48.20). It was associated with history of pregnancy complications (AOR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.50-4.87), lack of formal education (AOR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.01-3.41), and no antenatal care (AOR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.13-2.78), far from health facilities (AOR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.04-2.83) and limited media access (AOR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.01-2.49).
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence (43.20%) of harmful cultural practices in the Ilu Galan district. Key drivers included limited maternal education, lack of media access, absence of antenatal care, distance from health facilities, and prior pregnancy complications. Addressing these issues requires strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration focused on empowering women through education and enhancing the reach of maternal healthcare services.
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