A study on traditional beliefs and practices related to pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum period, and newborn care among women

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify women's traditional beliefs and practices related to pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, and infant care, as well as the sociodemographic factors influencing these practices. The study was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 200 women who applied to Yozgat Bozok University Health Research and Application Center. Data were collected via sociodemographic informaiton scale and the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Practices Scale, and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Independent-samples t-tests and one way ANOVA were employed for statistical analysis, with a significance level set at p< 0,05. Tukey post hoc tests were applied for variables showing significant differences. The results revealed statistically significant differences in terms of age, educational level, occupational status, social security coverage, family structure, mode of conception, and the presence of health problems during pregnancy (p<0,05). Based on the mean scores of the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Practices Scale, women were found to have a high level of awareness regarding traditional practices. Furthermore, higher educational attainment was associated with increased awareness of traditional practices, while living in an extended family structure was found to be influential in the continuation of such practices. 2025, xiii, + 67 pages Keywords: Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum period, Newborn care, Non-Functional beliefs and practices