Sahel Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2016  |  Volume : 19  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 215--219

Ritual hot bath (wankan jego) in Kano: Are they still practicing? What are the implications?


Ayyuba Rabiu, Ibrahim Garba, Idris Sulaiman Abubakar 
 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University Kano, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Ayyuba Rabiu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University Kano, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 3011, Kano
Nigeria

Background: Postpartum ritual hot bath is one of the harmful cultural beliefs commonly practiced in Northern Nigeria. It is linked with health hazards especially among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 199 pregnant women over the period of 3 months. Ethical approval was obtained from The Kano State Ethical Committee. Questionnaire was administered among consenting pregnant women. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and practice of hot bath was obtained. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17 computer software (SPSS Inc., SPSS Statistics for Windows, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: One hundred and ninety-nine pregnant women were recruited for the survey. The mean age ± standard deviation was 28.09 ± 5.55 years. The rate of hot bath was 56.80% and the days spent taking the hot bath ranged from 4 to 40 days. An average of 195.41 ± 96.050 Naira was spent on firewood per day for the hot bath. The method of boiling the water was mainly the use of firewood 87 (78.40%). They mainly used leaves 76 (68.50%) and towel 35 (31.50%) for bathing. The responsibility of the cost of the hot bath was mainly on husband 102 (91.90%). The hot bath was enforced mainly by the parents 68 (61.30%). Up to 82 (73.90%) of the respondents were ready to abandon the hot bath if alternatives such as drugs are provided. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of hot bath was 56.80%. The burden of its financial implications lies mainly on husbands leading to other social and financial problems.


How to cite this article:
Rabiu A, Garba I, Abubakar IS. Ritual hot bath (wankan jego) in Kano: Are they still practicing? What are the implications?.Sahel Med J 2016;19:215-219


How to cite this URL:
Rabiu A, Garba I, Abubakar IS. Ritual hot bath (wankan jego) in Kano: Are they still practicing? What are the implications?. Sahel Med J [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];19:215-219
Available from: https://www.smjonline.org/article.asp?issn=1118-8561;year=2016;volume=19;issue=4;spage=215;epage=219;aulast=Rabiu;type=0