Abstract

Objectives: To explore the traditional rearing caring beliefs and practices and to ascertain the factors that affect infant’s health.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted in the district Faisalabad, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 mothers who had at least one child less than sixteen months of age.
Results: Mothers who had higher education and better economic status had less inclination towards the risky and traditional rearing caring practices, whilst age of mothers and type of family (joint and nuclear) had non-significant relation with traditional rearing caring practices. It was found that 81.5% mothers press the head of child for skull beauty. Data revealed that 83% of the mothers were agreed that amulets and spiritual spells cure the children from diseases and 86% mothers were in the opinion that baby can be affected by witch eye.
Conclusion: Majority of the mothers were found to execute conventional child and neonatal health care practices. There is a need to change the behaviour and perception of the caretakers about the standard rearing and caring practices of children.

Key words: infant health, conventional rearing caring practices, morbidity and mortality