DO YOU KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE PUT PALM OIL IN THEIR BABY’S ARMPIT AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS ON THEIR BODY TO PREVENT BODY ODOUR

Our people and the things they believe in. The things individuals on their own inculcate into culture and tradition most times can be very funny. Individuals on their own create something from their imagination and tag it to practicing their culture and upholding value.

I visited a friend of mine who gave birth to a baby, that morning that I came; the baby was being bathed by my friend’s neighbor. After she had cleaned the baby and applied cream, she asked my friend to bring her palm oil and grounded charcoal. I asked what those items were for, and she said we children of nowadays do not know culture and how to prevent some certain things. I waited to see wonders and culture. So when she brought those things, the woman collected the charcoal and mixed thoroughly with the palm oil and then applied it to baby’s armpit and held the baby’s arms still and refused to talk or respond to anybody until after about 5 minutes.

When she finally talked, I asked her what that was for.  She said it was to prevent body odour that might surface when the baby is grown and that one does not talk while applying it to the baby. Also that her parents did it to her and her siblings and that it has been practiced for ages. Meanwhile this is someone that when she enters a room, the whole room will be saturated with one awful smell like that, trying to prevent someone from having body odour.(shake my head)

WHAT IS BODY ODOUR AND HOW DOES IT DEVELOP?

Body odour is the perceived unpleasant smell our bodies can give off when bacteria that live on the skin break down sweat into acids. It is also known as B.O (Bromhidrosis, Osmidrosis). It usually becomes evident if measures are not taken when a human reaches puberty. It is most likely to occur in the following areas:  armpit, groin, feet, genitals, pubic hair and other hair, belly buttons, anus, behind the ears etc.

Risk factors that can lead to body odour: people who are obese, people who sweat too much, people who eat spicy food a lot like garlic, individuals with certain medical conditions such as diabetes. (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

PREVENTION

• keep the body clean always by bathing regularly

1.                Keep the armpit clean

2.                Shave regularly

3.                 Use deodorants

FROM THE TABLE OF THE GOOD NURSE

·         Applying these things to babies in the name of practicing culture and tradition is a total fallacy; it does not work at all. Nobody should deceive you.

·         Mothers, please seek for professional medical advice before allowing your babies to be used as experiment models.