Patterns and predictive factors of unhealthy practice among mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal and newborn care in Southern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude, patterns and predictive factors of unhealthy practice among mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal and newborn care in Southern Ethiopia. RESULTS: Among the total participants, 29.0% mothers performed at least one unhealthy practice during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal period and newborn care. This study identified the following harmful practices such as food prohibition (53.2%), home delivery (41.5%), discarding colostrum (18.6%), application of substance on the cord stump (12.1%), delayed breast feeding (28.4%), prelacteal feeding (43.0%) and early bathing (49.3%). Being grand multiparous (AOR = 2.528, 95% CI 1.037–6.166), being illiterate (AOR = 7.611, 95% CI 2.375–24.396) and lack of awareness on the effect of unhealthy practice (OR = 4.673, 95% CI 1.163–18.774) were independent predictors of outcome variable.