Newborn care in India: Why we need to bridge cultural beliefs with science
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Newborn care in India is deeply influenced by a blend of cultural beliefs, traditions, and modern medical science. Although all these customs have been handed down the line of generations and have significant cultural meaning, evidence-based medicine asks for certain practices to be reviewed.
As a pediatrician, I appreciate tradition in patient care, yet feel a responsibility to provide evidence-based practice that protects the safety and well-being of newborns. The cultural landscape of India is so vast that customs related to newborn care are also innumerable. Application of kajal to a newborn's eyes or forehead is one such common practice.
This is believed to ward off evil spirits to keep harm away from the baby. Similarly, massaging newborns with oil, followed by a bath, is considered essential to strengthen the baby's muscles and bones. Many families also follow japa or confinement of the mother and baby for the first 40 days post-birth, wherein the care for the baby falls to elders in the family.
It gives time for the mother to rest, and it is believed to protect the baby from acquiring infections. While these customs have their historical background, especially when healthcare access was poor, modern science shows a different light on these. Regarding the use of kajal, there is no scientific basis to support its health advantages.
On the contrary, kajal may contain lead or some other toxic ingredient when prepared as homemade soot or from some commercial product, thus causing infection or developmental disorders. There is the oil massage, which, although good for bonding and circulation, might irritate the tender skin of the newborn if certain oils are used. Parents should
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