Infant Oil Massage Knowledge and Practices Among Young Mothers in Malappuram, Kerala

A cross-sectional survey of 145 primiparous mothers in Malappuram district, Kerala, India, conducted to understand knowledge and practices related to traditional infant oil massage. The data was collected via face-to-face interviews using a validated questionnaire. Results indicate 71% of mothers practiced traditional oil massage, while 94.5% were unaware of the Ayurvedic concept of 'abhyaṅga'.

Use Cases

• Analyze the prevalence of traditional infant care practices based on survey responses from 145 mothers.
• Study the gap between traditional practice and formal Ayurvedic knowledge based on reported awareness levels.
• Model factors influencing the choice of massage oil based on the reported use of coconut oil by 75.9% of mothers.
• Assess healthcare-seeking behavior based on the finding that 96.9% never consulted an Ayurvedic practitioner.

Strengths

• Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using a validated and reliable questionnaire.
• Provides specific, quantified results on key practices (e.g., 71% practice rate, 75.9% use coconut oil).
• Focuses on a specific, understudied geographic and cultural context (young mothers in Malappuram, Kerala).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for certain analytical methods.
• The dataset's 445.2 KB size suggests a limited scope, likely containing summary statistics or a small survey sample.

Provenance

Source

Keerthi R. Panicker via figshare.

Collection Method

Cross-sectional survey conducted via face-to-face interviews with a closed-ended questionnaire.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-08 05:56:33; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Malappuram district, Kerala, India.