BELIEFS AND PRACTICES REGARDING HOME REMEDIES FOR MINOR DISORDERS DURING PREGNANCY AMONG ANTENATAL MOTHERS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Introduction: Indian culture has a long history in traditional health practices and home remedies (Grandma's medicines) for treating many conditions. Today varieties of natural home remedies are used to treat minor conditions and some severe illnesses. Despite of modern medicines most of the people still using home remedies in mother and child care. Objectives: To assess the beliefs & practices regarding home remedies for minor disorders during pregnancy among antenatal mothers. Methodology: Pub Med, Medline, EBSCO were searched for research articles in knowledge and practices regarding home remedies for minor disorders during pregnancy among antenatal mothers. Result: Out of seven articles, three studies showing average level of knowledge, two studies showing poor level of knowledge and two studies shows good level of knowledge on minor ailments and its home remedies. One study showing that women were practicing home care for treating minor ailments. 2 study articles shows the self management practices of pregnant women on minor disorders during pregnancy was very poor. Conclusion: Majority of the studies highlighted that the practices of home remedies on minor ailments during pregnancy were very low. Overall the review suggested that teaching the antenatal women about the minor ailments and their home remedy as a part of antenatal care during antenatal visits aid the mother to treat minor ailments at home and continue their pregnancy without having any major effects.