Clinic helps end harmful cultural practices in Bangladesh

http://www.unfpa.org/news/clinic-helps-end-dangerous-traditional-practices-rural-bangladesh

In Chanti Hasradanga, a rural village in rural northwest Bangladesh, a clinic is helping the community to change harmful cultural practices that cause infant mortality.

Women in this village typically do not receive pre- or post-natal medical treatments, but rely upon traditional birth attendants  who are not skilled in handling complicated pregnancies or births. Instead, they rely upon old traditions, that are harmful to infants. One practice highlighted in this article is where babies are doused in cold water following birth. The result is, during winter months, babies often die due to hypothermia. The reasoning behind this practice is because people believe babies should be clean.

The clinic reaches out to mothers through in-person communication such as going “door-to-door” to encourage women to seek medical/prenatal care and family planning services.