TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN TO OVERCOME COMMON PREGNANCY MINOR DISCOMFORTS IN RURAL AREAS

Abstract

Pregnancy is a normal process that results in a senes of both physiological• and psychological changes in women that require adjustment and adaptation on the part of the mother. The most observable result of physiological changes is minor discomforts. The most common discomforts are morning sickness, heart bum, constipation, backache, and leg cramps. Although minor discomforts are non serious, their presence detract from the mother feeling of comfort and well being in many instances they can be avoided by preventive measures or healthful practices once they do occur. Indogenous or traditional practices constitute one type of folk medicine. They are found in almost every household and are given various degrees of ,•• importance by mothers. The maternity nurse is in a unique position to assist in prevention and adopting minor discomforts through their health education and counseling, which are very crucial nursing tasks. Understanding ofwomen's practices to their minor discomforts is necessary since pregnant women behave in different ways to control these discomforts. Therefore, this study was done to explore the practices adopted by pregnant women to relive their common minor discomforts. By revealing these practices, it would be possible to exclude harmful practices and encourage useful ones.