Healthcare · 3 authors, 3 centres
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This qualitative study of 37 postpartum women in Morocco identified cultural beliefs and practices influencing maternal and newborn care, such as 40-day confinement and specific diets. A key limitation is the small, non-representative sample from three provinces, which limits generalizability to the broader Moroccan population.
This study explored sociocultural traditions and beliefs related to safe motherhood and newborn health in Morocco. Using a qualitative design, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 37 postpartum women from three provinces (Essaouira, Settat, Salé) between March and September 2021. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed three major themes: practices during pregnancy, practices for safe motherhood, and practices for newborn health. Key findings included the practice of a 40-day postpartum confinement period ('trabaina'), beliefs about protecting mother and newborn from the evil eye and witchcraft through rituals like fumigation, and specific nutritional practices (e.g., 'rfissa') to warm the body and promote recovery. Some practices, such as applying henna to the newborn to prevent jaundice, were noted to potentially interfere with medical care. The authors suggest that understanding these cultural practices is crucial for healthcare providers to deliver culturally sensitive care and counsel women effectively.
