Harrison, Simone L., Devine, Susan G., Saunders, Vicki L., Smith, Annika D., Buettner, Petra G., and Nowak, Madeleine J. (2013) Changing the risky beliefs of post-partum women about therapeutic sun-exposure. Women and Birth, 26 (3). pp. 202-206.

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Abstract

Background: Many post-partum women hold risky beliefs about perceived therapeutic benefits of sun-exposure in the post-partum period and infancy.

Question: Can a maternity hospital based educational intervention reduce the prevalence of such beliefs among post-partum women?

Methods: In this outcome evaluation of an interventional study, two groups of healthy post-partum women (hospital inpatients) were interviewed, 1–4 days following delivery. The first cross-section (106 women) was recruited prior to in-services for maternity staff; the second (203 women) was recruited after completion of the in-services. Data were compared between the groups.

Findings: More pre-intervention than post-intervention women reported they would expose their baby to sunlight to treat suspected jaundice (28.8% vs 13.3%; p < 0.001) or help his/her skin adapt to the sun (10.5% vs 2.5%; p = 0.003); or use sunlight to manage breastfeeding-associated sore/cracked nipples (7.6% vs 2%; p = 0.026).

Conclusion: This simple, effective educational intervention could be implemented in programmes for parents, health professionals and students.

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