RURAL-URBAN COMPARISON OF INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOSITYAND TRADITIONAL BELIEFS ON THE ADOPTION OF KEY MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PRACTICES AMONGST MOTHERS IN CROSS RIVER STATE

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RURAL-URBAN COMPARISON OF INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOSITYAND TRADITIONAL BELIEFS ON THE ADOPTION OF KEY MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PRACTICES AMONGST MOTHERS IN CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract

Background
Maternal and child health morbidity and mortality are still unacceptably high in many of the world’s developing countries including Nigeria. Religiosity and culture are key determinants of several health outcomes including maternal and child health. However, there is a dearth of literature on influence of religiosity and culture on maternal and child health in Nigeria. This study therefore assessed the influence of religiosity and culture on maternal and child health practices, in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria.
Methodology
A comparative cross-sectional survey was used. A total of 270 mothers of under 5 children were selected from rural and urban settings using a multistage sampling technique. Pre tested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires were used to elicit information about maternal and child healthcare practices, influence of Religiosity and Traditional beliefs on these practices in both rural and urban settings. Data was entered and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21.0, P-value was set at <0.05
Result
Mean age was 23.1 ± 4.6 years, with a range of 16 to 42 years. Except for the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN), other recommended maternal health practices assessed, were more commonly practiced among urban compared with rural respondents (p<0.05). Also, except for husband involvement in childcare, handwashing before food preparation and before feeding child, other recommended child health practices assessed, were more commonly practiced among urban compared with rural respondents (<0.05).
Among rural respondents, use of artificial family planning methods and husband involvement in last pregnancy were significantly commoner among those that attended religious activities less than once weekly (p<0.05). Complication readiness was commoner among rural respondents that attended religious services more than once weekly (46.7%). Among urban respondents, use of artificial family planning methods was also significantly commoner among those that attended religious activities less than once weekly. However, unlike rural respondents husband involvement in last pregnancy was commoner among urban respondents that attended religious activities more than once weekly. Also, among urban respondents that attended ANC, having at least eight attendances was commoner among those that attended religious activities more than once weekly.
Among rural respondents, taking child to health facility during last severe childhood illness was significantly commoner among those that attended religious activities less than once weekly. Practice of exclusive breastfeeding was commoner among rural respondents that attended religious services more than once weekly. Among urban respondents, taking child to health facility during last severe childhood illness was commoner among those that attended religious services more than once weekly. Also, among urban respondents, husband participation in childcare was significantly commoner among those that attended religious activities more than once weekly. Among rural respondents, use of artificial family planning method was significantly commoner among those that were culturally positively disposed to its use. Practice of health facility childbirth delivery, preparation for health facility access, and identification of a suitable blood donor, were more commonly found among respondents that were culturally positively or indifferently disposed.
Conclusion
Most recommended maternal and child health practices were more commonly practiced in urban compared with rural settings. Some maternal and child health practices are associated with more frequent, while others are associated with less frequent attendance of religious activities among respondents in both rural and urban settings. Cultural influence on maternal and child health practices was predominant in rural settings. These findings are useful baseline for better understanding of the dynamics of influence of religiosity and culture on maternal and child health practices in the Cross River State of Nigeria. Maternal health education as well as education and robust engagement of spiritual and traditional leaders is highly recommended. This should be focused at corrective reorientation towards preference of recommended best practices that they currently do not support, while sustaining effort at encouraging other best practices.

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