Traditional Nutritional Beliefs and Practices Among Mothers in Riyadh During the Puerperal Period: a Cross-Sectional...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Nutritional Science
• Sociology

Background:

• Postpartum period involves significant physical, social, and emotional changes for women.
• Misconceptions about postpartum nutrition contribute to high neonatal mortality rates.
• Cultural variations exist in traditional nutritional beliefs and practices during the postnatal period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the nutritional beliefs and practices of mothers during the puerperal period.
• To understand the factors influencing postpartum dietary choices.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from October 2021 to April 2022.
• Online survey questionnaire administered to 381 mothers.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, t-test, linear regression, and Pearson correlation.

Main Results:

• Mothers did not avoid food or water post-normal delivery; preferred beverages included Arabic coffee.
• Age positively correlated with nutritional beliefs and practices.
• Lower educational attainment and higher parity (≥5 children) were associated with stronger nutritional beliefs.
• Dietary habits were prioritized more after natural delivery compared to cesarean delivery.

Conclusions:

• Complex relationships exist between sociodemographic factors and postpartum dietary choices.
• Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive postpartum nutritional guidance.