BELIEFS AND PRACTICES DURING PREGNANCY, LABOR AND DELIVERY, POSTPARTUM AND INFANT CARE OF WOMEN IN THE SECOND DISTRICT OF ILOCOS SUR, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The study determined the extent of beliefs and practices during pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum, and infant care of women who sought prenatal check –up, consultation, confined, and delivered at the Ilocos Sur District Hospital- Narvacan during the months of April, May and June of the Calendar Year 2016. Results of the study revealed that a marked percentage of the respondents are below 25 years old, college undergraduate, great majority are from the barangay, married , have no job, and majority have a monthly family income of 5,000 and below. The majority of the respondents are in their second pregnancy and have 2 living children. The respondents have “High” extent of beliefs. They “Agree” on the beliefs that a pregnant woman will deliver a baby boy if her fetus have fast heartbeat, a woman in labor should prohibit guest/s to stand near or at the door, and at the stairs to prevent complications in labor, must not stay under the rain; and not to take in cold drinks after giving birth so that she will not get easily chilled; and newborns must have a rosary beside them when they are left alone by the mother. They have “High” extent of practices. They do not hide their pregnancy to avoid abnormalities; do not attend wakes and funerals or look to dead to avoid fetus’ death; they walk during labor to facilitate descent of the fetal head; and let their husband bury the placenta to end labor pains and bleeding.