Abstract
This study describes the experiences of women in rural Bangladesh, and the cultural practices related to how they take care of themselves and their babies, in the early postnatal period. Data were gathered through immersion in the field for six months, participant observation, document collection and in-depth interview techniques to gain a deep understanding of women's everyday lives and practices during the postnatal period. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 28 mothers who had had at least one live child within the five years before the date of data collection, in Purba Sharifabad village of the Barisal Division in Bangladesh. The key findings of this study highlight the role of culture in the experiences of women during the postnatal period, and reveal that cultural practices, beliefs and traditions are deeply embedded in the lives of rural women. This study focuses on cultural practices which have an effect on the choices of women regarding care and support from healthcare facilities. Culture, together with poverty and low levels of education, leads them to resist healthcare from a skilled birth attendant and encourages them to believe in and trust traditional care practices during the postnatal period. Therefore, the findings of this study may contribute to future policies, planning, programs and research in Bangladesh by providing an understanding of the importance of culturally and socially rooted traditional beliefs and cultural practices. These need to be addressed for maternal and newborn healthcare initiatives to be effective, particularly in rural Bangladesh.