Survival of newborn and traditional practices of maternal and neonatal care- an analytical case-control study

Abstract Background Pakistan has been reported to have the highest neonatal mortality rate of 39 (out of 1000 live births) among the South Asian countries. The disease burden in low- and middle-income nations is significantly influenced by financial restraints, delays in recognising danger signs, and socio-cultural factors. Most of these fatalities are avoidable. It is necessary to have a thorough understanding of cultural practices, beliefs, and family and societal norms to save precious lives. We have designed this study to determine the association between traditional practices of maternal and neonatal care and their effect on the survival of newborns. Methodology This is an analytical case-control study in which we utilise a non-probability consecutive sampling method. A total of 92 women (31 cases and 61 controls) who visited the outpatient departments of Paediatrics and Gynaecology/Obstetrics at Ziauddin Hospital, Kemari Campus, and lived in Gulshan-e Sikandarabad were chosen. The data were gathered through in-person interviews using a self-created, comprehensive, structured questionnaire with the assistance of community health workers. The data were collected from June 2021 to February 2022. The socio-demographics, maternal, neonatal, and neonatal care practices were the four main categories into which the variables under study were organized. The data was entered and analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Chi-square was used to compare appropriate practices between cases and controls. The odds ratios with a 95% interval were collected for all risk factors and effect modifiers by binary logistic regression. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the final predictors of the study. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results On comparison of appropriate practices between cases and controls, significant associations were found between neonatal survival and the application of dressing on the umbilicus, time of first bath, cloth used for wrapping, exclusive breastfeeding, and getting the child vaccinated within the first week of life (p < 0.05). Multinomial logistic regression identified two factors of neonatal mortality. These factors were low birth weight (β 6.807,95% CI 1.77–26.10, p = 0.005), which increases the mortality ratio and vaccination of the child, which was found to have a protective effect (β 0.056,95%CI .011-.275, p < 0.0001). Conclusion Cultural practices were prevalent in the antenatal, natal, and post-natal periods, among which were found to be detrimental to neonatal survival. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.2, it is high time to work at the grassroots level and create awareness for reducing newborn mortality by cutting down detrimental traditional practices.