A Paediatrician at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) in Tema, Dr. Amma Benin, has emphasized the need for mothers and society to abandon the harmful cultural practice of dribbling hot water into babies’ genitals.
The practice, commonly performed by mothers and grandmothers, involves applying hot water to the private parts of females and the anal area of males to facilitate bowel movement.
“These actions can cause burns or even major problems to the baby,” she said.
Dr. Benin gave the advice when treating the topic “Cultural practises that affect child health” at the weekly “Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! A Ghana News Agency initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy
Dr. Benin also warned against giving alcoholic beverages and other traditional medicine to babies when they are unable to pass stool, stressing “If your baby cannot pass stool for some time, bring the baby to the hospital because there are medications that will be given to the baby”.
Exclusively breastfed babies for six months rarely experience constipation, as revealed by Dr. Amma Benin.
“Normally, babies who are typically given formula tend to have more constipation than babies with exclusive breast feeding.”
Dr. Benin highlighted the potential harm of certain traditional practices on babies, urging mothers to prioritize their well-being.
She advised mothers to obtain National Health Insurance Cards to ensure free access to medical care for themselves and their infants.
Additionally, she encouraged pregnant women to prioritize anomaly scan sessions around the 20th week of pregnancy, which help identify any potential defects or abnormalities.
Dr. Benin emphasized that comprehensive counseling is provided to expectant parents to prepare them for their baby’s arrival and guide them on proper care.
She also cautioned against taking unprescribed medications during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of consulting with gynecologists and following prescribed medications by healthcare professionals.