The area of Mother and Child Health is of
particular importance, since this has the largest body of
specialised traditional practitioner namely dais.
This is also an unique area in as much as this is the
only field where the government has taken notes of
existence of traditional practitioners namely dais -
dai training is now an important part of the official
package of Mother and Child care. In 1988-89 the LSPSS in
collaboration with CHETNA had taken up a detailed survey
of Traditional practices relating to Mother and Child
Health in various parts of the country. The findings of
this survey were evaluated by Aachaaryaas from the
viewpoint of Aayurveda. The results of these
findings were shared with community health workers,
modern medical practioners etc. in a National convention
on the Mother and Child Health in Traditional Medicine
which was held at New Delhi in the December 1989.
In this publication we have tried to present an
over-view. of the Traditional Practices of Mother and
Child care presenting the view of Aayurveda as
well as assessment of some traditional practices from Aayurvedic
viewpoint. This is essentially a compilation from the
results of the field survey and the material presented at
the Delhi meeting. Since the subject is quite vast we
have restricted ourselves in this monograph - i.e. Part
I, to the subject of Garbhinicharya (i.e.) the
care of the pregnant woman. Part II of this title will be
published subsequently and will the practices relating to
childbirth as well as the care of the Mother and child
after delivery.
The author are thankful to Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala (IIT,
Madras) for his help with the layout and Miss. R. Rama
for typing the drafts of the manuscripts and for
preparing the final text. Above all we are grateful to
the voluntary agencies who did the survey and the Aachaaryaas
who evaluated the data.
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