Harrison, Simone, Buttner, Petra, and Nowak, Madeleine (2005) Maternal beliefs about the reputed therapeutic uses of sun exposure in infancy and the postpartum period. Australian Midwifery Journal, 18 (2). pp. 22-28.

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Abstract

Objective: To determine the beliefs of women living in sub-tropical and temperate Australia about the reputed therapeutic uses of sunlight in infancy and the postpartum period.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-seven Caucasian postpartum women were recruited from three maternity hospitals in Canberra (August 1998) and one in Brisbane (August 1999), and participated in structured interviews during a sevenday sampling period at each hospital.

Results: The prevalence of inappropriate maternal beliefs about therapeutic sun exposure in infancy and the postpartum period was similar in Brisbane and Canberra. Overall, 62% of women had at least one inappropriate belief about the perceived benefits of intentionally sunning their baby. Forty-two percent of women were in favour of using sunlight to treat neonatal jaundice; 31.1% believed sunlight was a good remedy for cracked nipples; 22.2% believed they should intentionally expose their baby to sunlight to prevent vitamin-D deficiency and 16.2% reported they would use sunlight to treat nappy rash. Older maternal age and previously sunning a child to treat jaundice were common predictors of a number of these beliefs.

Conclusions and Implications: These women reported a high prevalence of beliefs that may result in their infant being intentionally exposed to sunlight, and which could increase their child’s future risk of skin cancer.

Item ID:	1640
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1871-5192
Keywords:	midwife, midwifery, sun exposure, jaundice, nappy rash, diaper, breast feeding, cracked nipples, sunlight, therapeutic sun exposure, maternity, post-partum, post-parturient, women, Australia, health advice, beliefs, practices, behaviour
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2007
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111716 Preventive Medicine @ 50% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111706 Epidemiology @ 50% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1110 Nursing > 111002 Clinical Nursing: Primary (Preventative) @ 0%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920412 Preventive Medicine @ 50% 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920501 Child Health @ 40% 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920102 Cancer and Related Disorders @ 10%
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