Investigation of traditional beliefs and practices related to the prenatal and postnatal periods among women in two different cultures

Understanding prenatal and postnatal traditional beliefs and practices that may affect maternal and infant health is critical for healthcare professionals. This study was conducted by Yalçın and Koçak (2012) to adapt the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Practices Scale to Syrian culture and language and to examine the prenatal and postnatal traditional beliefs and practices of Turkish and Syrian women. The study is a methodological and cross-sectional research type and was conducted between December 2022 and December 2023. For the Turkish sample group, data were collected from a family health center in Bandırma district of Balıkesir province; for the Syrian sample group, data were collected from a primary health center serving Syrian immigrants affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Kilis province. A total of 320 Syrian and 85 Turkish participants were included in the study, including 228 Syrian participants in the validity and reliability phase of the scale, 92 Syrian and 85 Turkish participants in the two-culture analysis phase. As a result of the validity and reliability studies of the scale in Syrian culture and Arabic language, a scale consisting of 25 items and four sub-dimensions with a total variance of 53% was obtained. The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant difference between the traditional beliefs and practices of the two cultures. Syrian women use more traditional methods in prenatal and postnatal periods compared to Turkish women. The demographic and obstetric factors that explain the differences between the two cultures are age, education level, number of children, family type and income level. This study includes comparative analyses that analyze not only the commonalities but also the distinctive elements of cultural practices between the two cultures. Using a scale of dysfunctional beliefs and practices adapted to the Syrian context, this study provides new insights into the cultural adaptations of these beliefs and their validity in contemporary settings.