“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON SELECTED CHILD REARING PRACTICES AMONG MOTHERS OF INFANTS IN SELECTED PAEDIATRIC UNITS OF METROPOLITAN CITY

The traditional practices are time honoured rituals and beliefs which are prevalent in a community and they may pertain to a wide range of activities. Every community has its own way of rearing children which is ingrained in the society through traditions established over centuries. The customs and cultural practices pertaining to mother craft and child care are passed on from one generation to another, from grand mother to mother and to their daughters and grand children. Infants are the most vulnerable group, who need adequate care. However, many of the rural areas in India, especially the more isolated ones, still use many child rearing practices that are considered either unsafe or unhealthy. Childhood vaccinations are another area of difference between Western and some Indian child rearing practices. While childhood vaccinations for the major endemic diseases such as smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio etc. vaccination compliance is very spotty in many rural areas, largely for cultural or religious reasons, despite decades long education and public information programs by the Indian government. So we can ensure their survival and healthy growth and development which can be laid by adequate nutrition, immunization and growth monitoring etc.