Maternal and Child Health Care Practice Among Newar and Non-Newar Women in Jhaukhel VDC Of Bhaktapur District

Abstract

The study entitled “Maternal and Child Health Care Practice among Newar and Non-newar Women in Jhaukhel VDC of Bhaktapur District” was carried out in order to identify the practice of maternal and child health care. The study was mainly based on primary data collected from 2 wards (5 & 7). The married women were interviewed to collect the information. The main objectives of the study were to find out the socio-economic & demographic characteristics and the MCH care practice of the Jhaukhel VDC. The study was based upon the data collected from primary sources among 100 households (43 Newar and 57 Non-newar). The researcher used the interview schedule to collect the data. The collected data were tabulated for analysis and descriptive method was used to analyze and interpret the tables. According to this study, most of the Newar respondents (74.42%) were more educated than Non-newar respondents (71.93%). The ANC visit was satisfactory. Most of the respondents had taken the iron tablet, however they were not regular visit. 51 percent of Newar and 49 percent Non-newar respondents had received the TT vaccine and iron tablet. About 80 percent Newar respondents had given birth at hospital whereas 81 percent Non-newar respondents had given birth at hospital which is favorable aspect for the mother’s health. The pregnant women in Non-newar were assisted by 45.45 percent mother in laws during delivery at home followed by Newar (44.44%). Similarly, most of Newar respondents (95.35%) used the safe delivery kit to cut the cord whereas only 77.19 percent Non-newar respondents used the safe delivery kit to cut the cord. Most of the women had suffered from health problem during delivery period like swelling of hands, face and legs; back paining and bleeding etc. Majority of the Newar mothers (97.67%) fed the first milk after the delivery followed by Non-newar (94.74%). Majority of respondents in both had used the foods containing ghee and meat during postnatal period. More than 85 percent Newar respondents took vitamin A capsule during postnatal period whereas Non-newar by only 82.46 percent. Similarly, most of the Newar respondents (48.84%) did not provide bath to their babies in fixed time followed by Non-newar respondents (45.61%). According to this study, 83.72 percent of Newar respondents and 78.95 percent of Non-newar respondents used family planning devices. 63.16 percent children had been suffered from different kinds of diseases in Non-newar community but only 58.14 percent children had been suffered from different kinds of diseases in Newar community. The contribution of husband and family members in antenatal, natal and postnatal period needs to be more effective which helps to reduce the maternal and child mortality. Therefore, there should have advocacy, awareness campaign and income based programs for the Jhaukhel community.