TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN REGARDING CHICKENPOX IN THE ERA OF VACCINATION: A SOCIAL SCENARIO IN ROHIALKHAND REGION (BAREILLY) OF UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Background: Most of the population strongly believed that chickenpox can be cured with home remedies only and their child has to be treated at home. They believed the superstitions that chickenpox was due to their past evils against the spirit of devi and as the deity is the guardian of the locality, this disease can be cured by Goddess only. Objective: To study beliefs and practices regarding Chickenpox and effect of sociodemogrphic variables. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the field practise area of community medicine among women in reproductive age group(15-45years), whose children already suffered from Chickenpox were chosen for study. Total 400 women were interviewed by using pretested semi structured questionnaire which was designed by obtaining the information by women of the villages, ASHA & AWW. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Most of the women, 314(78.5%) believed that chickenpox is supernatural disease. Out of 400 women, 346(86.5%) believed that chickenpox is a supernatural disease and performing the rituals would solace the deity and the child will not suffer again. Conclusion: As per study findings we concluded that in era of advanced medical research and vaccination, still people are using different practices to avoid angriness of deity. They still live in the dilemma that disease can be cured by Goddess only.