Intergenerational exploration of traditional practices affecting child health: A phenomenological study

All over the world, various traditional practices affect child health. The aim of our research was to explore the changes in traditional practices that affect child health between generations and to investigate the life experiences of generations in depth.

Using a phenomenological design, this study was conducted with semi-structured interviews with families of both generations (mothers and daughters). The study was written based on the COREQ checklist.

Four themes (traditional practices and intergenerational differences, beliefs/emotions related to traditional practices, influence factors in traditional practices, traditional methods in child care) and fourteen sub-themes (change in practices between generations, intergenerational transmission of traditional practices, beliefs in perceived benefits, skepticism and disbelief attitude, emotional reactions and perceiving as unnecessary, mother/mother in-law, traditional knowledge from mothers and grandmothers, family elders, the role of the internet and social media, spiritual practices, use of herbal products, alternative applications to medicines, relaxing applications, health consequences of traditional practices) were generated from the data.

According to the findings, some harmless traditional practices are still relevant across generations, while harmful practices are mostly abandoned by new generations. The level of education and access to information has led the new generation to question traditional practices and show more interest in scientific knowledge-based methods.

This research can contribute to advances in child health by helping us understand beliefs, feelings, and influencing factors related to traditional practices. Maternal education and community awareness-raising campaigns can be used to reduce harmful traditional practices.