Pregnant Women and Postpartum Mothers Habits of Using Traditional Medicine, Avoid to Certain Food and Activities

In some areas, women who are pregnant and postpartum get variety of habits, some example include using the traditional medicine, avoiding certain foods and activities that were prohibited by their ancestor. Some traditional medicines, foods and prohibit activities did not yet have scientific evidence. Nevertheless, the habit persists today. The objective of this study was to explore information about the habits of pregnant women and postpartum mothers. This observational study with a qualitative approach was to looking for to the habits of pregnant women and postpartum in the midwife of Tugu Harum village, an area in East OKU Shout Sumatera, Indonesia who is being pregnant and post partum in the period February – May 2023. The number of study groups were 27 pregnant women and 30 postpartum mothers with inclusion criteria for children aged 1-24 months. The research instrument is developed in a questionnaire whose results are presented descriptively. The results of this study showed that the highest use of traditional medicine in pregnant women was “jamu beras kencur†galanga rice (23.4%). The highest use in postpartum mothers was “jamu kunyit asem†turmeric acid (23.4%). The food that should be avoided by pregnant women is pineapple (21.5%) and by postpartum were fishes, seafood, eggs (23.1%). One the actiyities that should be avoided by pregnant women is prohibited from sitting in front of the door (15, 6%) and by postpartum is prohibited to leaving home before 40 days (23.5%). Pregnant women and postpartum in Tugu Harum Village, East OKU still obediently follow the habits of their ancestors. One of the habits of postpartum that is inappropriate in using traditional medicine is to drink “jamu sawan†. It is believed to prevent seizures in babies due to evil spirits. An inappropriate eating habit in postpartum is avoid to consume seafood and eggs, they worried to caused the baby will getting smell fishy. Even though in highly educated of the women still followed the habits of their ancestors.