Abstract
BackgroundDespite the advances in medical health care services, people still believe and follow their traditions. Some of the traditional postpartum practices are harmful to women's health contrary to the common belief. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of myths regarding room ventilation (MRV) among Saudi women. MethodsWe conducted an observational cross-sectional study on 355 women in the postpartum period from the outpatient clinic of Mother and Child Hospital (MCH), Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The investigators interviewed all the study participants to fill the proformas and collect all the study data. We analyzed the study data to estimate the prevalence of MRV in our sample as well as the factors associated with MRV.ResultsMost of our study participants were above 30 years (45%), multigravida (85%), and went through a cesarean section (78%). There was a significant association between MRV and education (P<0.001), occupation (P<0.001), and parity (P<0.001) but not with age (P=0.136). The prevalence of MRV dropped from 80% in women who had primary education only to 13% in women who had high school and college education. Also, it differed according to the participant's occupational status. MRV was prevalent in 56% of housewives vs. only 17% of the employed women. Moreover, it showed a substantial change with parity status. MRV increased from 23% in primiparous to 53% in multigravida.ConclusionOur results showed that the MRV is highly prevalent in the Saudi Arabia community and higher levels of education were negatively associated with the beliefs in the MRV. These findings highlight the importance of proper health education of pregnant women as well as the need for a prompt response from the Ministry of Health towards the MRV to eliminate it and spread the proper postpartum health care practices.
Highlights
Puerperium or postpartum period is the period that follows the delivery of the placenta and lasts around six weeks [1]
myths regarding room ventilation (MRV) increased from 23% in primiparous to 53% in multigravida
Our results showed that the MRV is highly prevalent in the Saudi Arabia community and higher levels of education were negatively associated with the beliefs in the MRV
Summary
Puerperium or postpartum period is the period that follows the delivery of the placenta and lasts around six weeks [1]. Physiological changes occur in the female body during this period that aims to restore its normal shape and physiological functions of the non-pregnant state [1]. These physiological changes include involution of the uterus and cervix, endometrium regeneration, marked diuresis in the first 48 hours with other urinary tract changes, reduction of the body weight, breast preparation for lactation, and regaining the fertile state [2,3]. Despite the progress and advances in medical health care services and multiple awareness campaigns to the mothers during pregnancy and lactation, people still have their postpartum practices and traditions that vary according to their country and religion [5]. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of myths regarding room ventilation (MRV) among Saudi women
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