PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS AND MENTAL WELL-BEING AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Superstitious beliefs during pregnancy are prevalent in many cultures, especially in regions where traditional customs strongly influence maternal behaviors. These beliefs, often passed down through generations, can shape how women manage their pregnancy, sometimes supporting well-being but at times interfering with evidence-based care. In Pakistan, cultural heritage, religious norms, and limited access to maternal healthcare services contribute to the persistence of these beliefs, which may affect maternal and fetal outcomes if not addressed through informed, culturally sensitive approaches.
Objective: To explore the nature, origin, and impact of pregnancy-related superstitions among women from different regions of Pakistan, and to identify the cultural, psychological, and societal factors that contribute to their persistence.
Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design and purposive sampling to select eight pregnant women from five regions of Punjab: Pakpatan, Sahiwal, Okara, Haveli Lakha, and Faisalabad. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in private settings. The audio-recorded data were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Thematic categorization followed a structured approach, identifying core themes and sub-themes related to cultural beliefs, emotional responses, and social influences.
Results: Four major themes and ten sub-themes were derived from the data. Among the eight participants (aged 18–40), 62.5% had only primary education, and 75% belonged to lower socioeconomic groups. Codes such as food taboos (n=11), fear and anxiety (n=10), and reliance on elders (n=8) were highly recurrent. Religious practices (n=4), generational differences (n=6), and lack of health literacy (n=6) also emerged as significant factors influencing beliefs. Most women preferred traditional advice over medical counsel due to emotional security, community pressure, and accessibility issues.
Conclusion: Superstitious beliefs during pregnancy are deeply ingrained in Pakistani culture, influenced by family traditions, religious values, and socioeconomic limitations. To promote safe maternal health, healthcare strategies must integrate culturally respectful education, family-centered counseling, and collaboration with traditional influencers and medical professionals.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Akbari, V., Rahmatinejad, P., Shater, M. M., Vahedian, M., & Khalajinia, Z. (2020). Investigation of the relationship of perceived social support and spiritual well-being with postpartum depression. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 9, 174.
Baharvand, P., Anbari, K., & Hamidi, H. (2022). Perceived social support in pregnant women with gestational diabetes attending hospitals in western Iran compared to healthy controls and its relationship with perceived anxiety. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, 21(2), 1549–1555.
Baltacı, N., & Vatansever, S. (2024). Investigation of distress and tolerance to distress in risky pregnant women. Journal of General Health Sciences, 6(2), 318–330.
Bedaso, A., Adams, J., Peng, W., & Sibbritt, D. (2021). The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Health, 18(1), 162
Bilgiç, G., & Çıtak Bilgin, N. (2021). Relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological and spiritual well-being in pregnant women. Journal of Religion & Health, 60(1), 295–310.
Chehrazi, M., Faramarzi, M., Abdollahi, S., Esfandiari, M., & Shafie Rizi, S. (2021). Health promotion behaviours of pregnant women and spiritual well-being: Mediatory role of pregnancy stress, anxiety, and coping ways. Nursing Open, 8(6), 3558–3565.
Feng, Y., Liu, X., Zhang, S., Lin, T., Guo, X., & Chen, J. (2024). Relationship among post-traumatic growth, spiritual well-being, and perceived social support in Chinese women with gynecological cancer. Scientific Reports, 14, 4847.
Gökbulut, N., Bal, Z., & Ucar, T. (2024). Fetal health anxiety: A validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Fetal Health Anxiety Inventory. Bezmialem Science, 12, 107–118.
Hosaini, S., Yazdkhasti, M., Moafi Ghafari, F., Mohamadi, F., Kamran Rad, S. H. R., & Mahmoodi, Z. (2023). The relationships of spiritual health, pregnancy worries and stress, and perceived social support with childbirth fear and experience: A path analysis. PLOS ONE, 18(12), e0294910.
İbici Akca, E., Gökbulut, N., & Cengizhan, S. O. (2024). The effects of MBSR programme on prenatal comfort and fetal health anxiety in pregnant women. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 42(3), 449–463.
Isaacs, N. Z., & Andipatin, M. G. (2020). A systematic review regarding women’s emotional and psychological experiences of high-risk pregnancies. BMC Psychology, 8, 45.
Karakoç, H., Özkan, H., Kanbur, A., & Aksoy, A. N. (2023). The relationship between distress and prenatal attachment during pregnancy. Journal of General Health Sciences, 5(2), 201–207.
Kaydırak, M. M., Balkan, E., Bacak, N., & Kızoglu, F. (2024). Perceived social support and depression, anxiety and stress in pregnant women diagnosed with fetal anomaly. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Koenig, H. G., & Carey, L. B. (2024). Religion, spirituality and health research: Warning of contaminated scales. Journal of Religion and Health, 63(5), 3729–3743.
Koenig, H. G., & Carey, L. B. (2025). Approaches for analyzing the relationship between spirituality and health using measures contaminated with indicators of mental and social health. Journal of Religion and Health.
Adinew YM, Kelly J, Smith M, Marshall A. Women's perspectives on disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth in Ethiopia: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):444.
Aydınlık Ö, Akın B. The effect of superstitions during pregnancy on quality of life and pregnancy adjustment. J Eval Clin Pract. 2025;31(3):e14162.
Drover H, Gardiner L, Singh SJ, Evans RA, Daynes E, Orme MW. Protected characteristics reported in pulmonary rehabilitation: a scoping review. Eur Respir Rev. 2024;33(172).
Haidar H, Le Clerc-Blain J, Vanstone M, Laberge AM, Bibeau G, Ghulmiyyah L, et al. A qualitative study of women and partners from Lebanon and Quebec regarding an expanded scope of noninvasive prenatal testing. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21(1):54.
Klc TR, Ames S, Zollinger B, Ansong D, Asibey OO, Benson S, et al. Abortion in rural Ghana: Cultural norms, knowledge and attitudes. Afr J Reprod Health. 2020;24(3):51-8.
Maxwell D, Conrad P. Women are the thread: Keetoowah elders' experiences of becoming a mother. Cult Health Sex. 2023;25(10):1355-70.
Raman S, Napier-Raman S, Pinzón-Segura MC. Exploring cultural influences in perinatal and early childhood nutrition. Rev Salud Publica (Bogota). 2024;26(3):115569.
Tesfaye Diro A, Abdissa Fufa D, Geremew H. Prevalence of cultural malpractice during the perinatal period and its determinants among reproductive age women in southwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1064583.