A descriptive study of full-term neonates with jaundice was carried out to determine factors affecting severity of neonatal jaundice for those infants presenting to the hospital from their homes. Severe jaundice (serum bilirubin >=250 µmol/l) was significantly more likely in infants whose mothers consumed traditional herbs during the postpartum period (p<0.001) and if the jaundice was first detected by the parents or relatives rather than by medical personnel (p<0.05). In addition, the interval between detection of jaundice and presentation to hospital was significantly longer in jaundice that was first detected by parents compared to those detected by medical personnel. In conclusion, factors affecting severity of neonatal jaundice for infants who present from home could be influenced by the socio-cultural practices of maternal postpartum use of herbs, the ability of parents to detect jaundice and the urgency of tlie parents in seeking medical treatment once the jaundice was detected. Further studies need to be done to explore the association of these factors with neonatal jaundice more specifically. KEYWORDS: Hyperbilirubinaemia, socio-cultural practices, herbs.
Study site: Paediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia