This was especially so for women who lived at places where they had to cross a river to the nearest health facility for ANC. After the birth, mom and baby are carefully shielded from sunlight, even inside the house, where a canopy is hung over the bed. The predominant language is Twi. al. As for the babies, theyre treated like gods. 2023 Jan 16;15(2):472. doi: 10.3390/nu15020472. While its not feasible for a doctor to be fully immersed in every culture represented by his or her patients, it is our duty to have a basic understanding of patients needs and communicate with them effectively and in a way that makes them feel comfortable. Disclaimer. (We could get down with that!) in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. Would you like email updates of new search results? This will often go away so we do not seek medical attention for it (Elderly woman, FGD). Traditional beliefs and practices in pregnancy, childbirth and These herbs make the birth process go smooth without complication. Most Japanese women aim to deliver their baby sans painkillers, an ancient belief that stems from the Buddhist belief that labor pains must be endured as a test to prepare for the difficulties of motherhood. The quotes below reflect this belief: When we deliver, we dont eat orange because of the wounds we get after birth and it also drains the breast milk . Yu H, He J, Li K, Qi W, Lin J, Szumilewicz A. However, it turns out, that in as much as some of these beliefs and practices are helpful, some can be detrimental to both mother and child. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. Cultural competency starts with effective communication, listening, and respect. Also off limits: names that can negatively affect babys well-being (for example, Apple). or 817-882-2400, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Authors: Mellissa Withers,Nina Kharazmi (MPH Student), Esther Lim (Clinical Research Coordinator) However, neonates with these conditions may not have access to good medical care because of the mandatory confinement as a way of protecting the baby against evil eyes. Some will be able to provide regular checkups including ultrasounds and blood tests, but require the expecting mother to deliver at another hospital; others will specialize in something else entirely. Invariably, the health care that a mother receives during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and soon after delivery is important for the survival and well-being of both the mother and her child. Other practices that place mothers at risk of disability or death include applying fundal pressure to hasten the labour process, forced vomiting to initiate the placenta expulsion, use of herbal concoctions for treating maternal complications and childbirth in an isolated or unsanitary environment (Fofie & Baffoe, Citation2010; Maimbolwa et al., Citation2003). Consequently, there was the need to introduce them to other foods instead of breastmilk only. The various codes were analyzed into themes based on the codes to reflect the content of the data collected alongside the writing memos on specific relevant areas. However, there are some things that remain taboo in certain parts of the world. Anytime I get pregnant it does not stay, so I was told it is because when you are pregnant and you go out people will look at you with evil eyes to spoil your pregnancy. Again, 2.9 million neonates die, with three-quarters of these deaths taking place in the first 7 days of life (UNICEF, Citation2012). This practice which would not be accepted in the healthcare system was thus a barrier to the formal facility delivery unlike home delivery where it is accepted. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted In Bangladesh, an earlier study reported that confinement of the mother and baby was observed until noai ceremony on day 7 or 9 to protect the baby against any evil (Winch et al., Citation2005). To better understand maternal health in Asia, Mellissa Withers, associate professor of clinical preventive medicine; MPH student Nina Kharazmi; and clinical research coordinator Esther Lim at the Keck School of Medicine of USC conducted a literature review of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum practices in Asian countries. Secondly, because each pregnancy requires a different level of care there cannot be a fixed fee. Various cultures' practices about childbirth are briefly discussed. Participants were of the view that baby boys will often lie at the right side of the womb whilst girls lie at the left side. In the pregnancy category, the majority of the studies focused on dietary recommendations and behavioral taboos. Mwakawanga DL, Mwilike B, Kaneko M, Shimpuku Y. BMJ Open. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. With the aid of NVivo 11, the data was analysed thematically. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Check out these fascinating, time-honored traditions from every corner of the globe. This practice was believed to contribute to making the head round as illustrated with the quotes: We prepare both hot and cold water for the bathing of the baby and then we use shea butter to massage their whole body and then we use cool water to massage their heads (Elderly woman, FGD). Each of the FGDs lasted between 45 and 60minutes while each the IDIs lasted for an average of 30minutes. No pain, no gain | The Economist While Japanese people represent a significant and growing cultural group within the United States, little is known about the culture-specific needs of Japanese women who experience. Cultural competence goes far beyond the Golden Rule treat people as you would prefer to be treated. Firstly, because being pregnant is not considered an illness or injury to oneselfthe typical remit of health insurance. I also have some medicine that I apply on the babys body for it to disappear (TBA, IDI). Private hospitals and clinics that do have childbirth facilities will usually be able to offer a better level of comfort versus general hospitals. For the Western culture, we are forbidden to eat raw fish during pregnancy. 11 Unique Birthing Traditions Around The World | HuffPost Life Names that are objects (like Apple) or surnames are never allowed, and you must be able to tell the babys gender by his or her first name. There was also the belief that unborn babies can be bewitched by bad or jealous people in the community thus making them develop certain abnormalities in the uterus. Its also the day when moms take their first post-birth bath. The study participants indicated they have received education on the need to exclusively breastfeed the baby for 6 months. 2016 Jul 5;16(1):147. doi: 10.1186/s12884-016-0938-4. For the childbirth category, many articles examined beliefs and practices that helped to explain women's aversion to institutional births, such as preference for traditional birth positions, and fear of medical interventions. Some FGD participants were of the view that the modern contraceptive methods could render a woman barren and therefore preferred to use natural methods. This is illustrated in the quote: We prefer to give birth in squatting position because it makes it easy for the baby to come out. Broadly speaking, there are three types of medical institutions in which mothers can give birth. The SCT proposes that behaviour change describes a dynamic, ongoing process in which personal factors, environmental factors, and human behaviour exert influence on each other. The Japanese believe that babies who cry loud and often are healthier and will grow much faster. For example, not all places can offer painless delivery (an epidural injection during labor to relieve pain); others have more advanced ultrasound technology, and so on. Certain cultural beliefs and attitudes, including social support for pregnancy and motherhood; and behavior before, during and after pregnancy, have been used to account for healthy birth outcomes and low rates of infant mortality and morbidity, particularly among recent immigrants. If this is not treated, it can affect the womans health and that of the child (Postnatal woman, FGD). These conditions become fatal during the first week of life and require prompt attention. Liu L, Xiao G, Zhang T, Zhou M, Li X, Zhang Y, Owusua T, Chen Y, Qin C. Children (Basel). Some participants also believed that eating of egg during pregnancy was forbidden because it will make the babys head soft as illustrated in the quote: the reason why you are not supposed to eat egg is because if you deliver, your babys head becomes very soft, I have tried it and it is true so I had to put a towel in hot water to always massage the babys head until about forty days time it became good so we stopped (Woman with child under five, FGD). In effect, notes taken during the interviews covered; interactions between the interviewer and interviewees, non-verbal communication, environment, and reflections from interview content. Pregnancy is acknowledged but not celebrated. To explore Korean beliefs and attitudes towards pregnancy, birth and postpartum practices: . For example, I recall a patient who was in labor with a premature baby. It is because of this that some women prefer to come to our facility (TBA, IDI). Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. In their study in Bangladesh, it was found that 37% of the neonatal deaths occurred within 24hours, 76% within 03days, 84% within 07days, and the remaining 16% within 828days (Chowdhury et al., Citation2010). Pregnancy providers should be open-minded and get to know their patients situations and preferences without making assumptions. An official website of the United States government. ), as well as the following items: Unless you have your own transport, youre going to be relying on a taxi to get you to the hospital. You can begin making enquiries once you know your expected delivery date, which is usually around the 8-10 week stage of pregnancy. They normally use some herbs which they add to about seven palm fruits, smoked mudfish and about three fingers of plantain to prepare a particular type of soup called Abedru and they start taking it when the pregnancy is about five to six months and they take it till they deliver. New Patient Appointment, Appointment Further, hospitals and clinics in Japan offer different levels of service, from the hotel-like treatment with your own separate room at the private hospitals to a more standard level of care elsewhere. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! The codebook defined the various codes used during coding, their definition, when to use and when not to use such a code and examples of statements that should be considered for coding into particular codes. This will cost about 5,000-10,000, and include a urine test and an ultrasound (depending on the number of weeks). Purposive sampling was used to select focus group discussion participants (13) among community members, pregnant women whose gestation was at least 6months, and women with babies less than 6 months of age. You can see the statistics by prefecture and type of institution here (Japanese only). Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. Local knowledge and derived practices of safety during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum: a qualitative study among nurse-midwives in urban eastern Tanzania. These beliefs lead to the adoption of certain practices, most of which have negative effects on mother and baby. A very traditional Japanese full-course meal with fortuitous foods is served for the baby. For . 8600 Rockville Pike PMC In addition, 22 in-depth interviews were conducted among health workers at district, subdistrict, and community levels. Levels and Determinants of Antenatal Breastfeeding Attitudes among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study. Socio-cultural beliefs and practices during pregnancy, child birth, and When it is not, we recommend that the doctor have a conversation with the patient to find solutions to make the situation more comfortable. More than one-half (38) of the articles focused on South Asia and 13 related to China. In 2015, it was estimated that, approximately 303, 000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in low resource settings, and most could have been prevented (WHO, Citation2016). The discounts offered by the maternity vouchers differ depending on where you live (although in the 23 wards of central Tokyo they are the same), as do the non-medical auxiliary services such as free massages and house cleans post-birth. If your child will stay in Japan longer than 60 days and you hold a resident status other than Permanent Resident (, tokubestu-eijken), you need to make anApplication for Certificate of Eligibility (, zairy-shikaku-shutoku-kyoka-shinsei) at the Japanese Immigration within 30 days of birth. In Japan, tradition has long been that women who gave birth were expected to be confined indoors with their babies for the first 100 days postpartum. However, in higher risk cases such as where the mother is pregnant with twins or is older, the private hospital may advise delivery at a general hospital. It is called jid-teate () in Japanese. On a harsh winter night, November 2, 1995, Itsumi Koga, a Japanese woman living in the Detroit area, arose to her newborn baby son's cries. Since then I have been giving him water and some mashed kenkey (Postnatal woman, FGD). Parents also dress newborns in red, which is considered good luck and keeps evil spirits away. If your Japanese isnt good enough to make such enquiries then youll need to ask a friend or find a place that is geared towards foreigners. Participants in this study were of the view that engaging in sex during pregnancy was essential in ensuring smooth delivery and highly recommended for women. (Citation2008) to play an important role during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum period and care of neonates. On Fertile Ground: Latina Health Beliefs During Pregnancy As at 2015, the risk of a woman in a developing country dying from a maternal-related cause during her lifetime was about 33 times higher compared to a woman living in a developed country (Alkema et al., Citation2016). 98 Japanese women in England and 88 Japanese women in Japan: South-East Asian: Thai: Kaewsarn (2003a) . Skip to Site Navigation 3099067 The reason for thinking about these totals is to consider the many different cultural beliefs and practices that coexist in the United States, and thus the many different views that can come together in a family, particularly at the time of pregnancy. Pregnancy care providers see a lot of cultural diversity every day. All interested researchers/readers/persons who meet the criteria for access to confidential data can access the data set from the corresponding author via this email address: easampong@ug.edu.gh. One element of the standard advice for pregnant women in Japan is worrying, however. A codebook was first developed for the main themes and sub-themes from preliminary reading through the transcripts. In addition, participants indicated that swelling of the feet was sign that the baby in the uterus was a male. Any variations in views were discussed and resolved by the translators. Other family members are expected to help out with chores as she bonds with the new baby. Good practices need to be identified and promoted whilst harmful practices must be discouraged (Saaka & Iddrisu, Citation2014). Table 1. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the So, to respect the patients wishes and properly care for her baby, we partitioned the room with screens the male doctor could be present without invading the patients privacy. This could be due to a conflict with your ad-blocking or security software. Mothers have the option to take a cash grant instead, but the majority opt for the starter kit, which is worth a lot more. This is illustrated in the following quote: Some of us live in places where you will have to cross a river before you go the clinic for them to assess you and the baby but because we pregnant women are not supposed to cross the river, we do not go (Elderly woman, IDI). The below is a brief overview of the types of properties in Japan and how they are listed, While a motorcycle can be the best way to get off the beaten track and see some of, There are many swimming facilities through out the capital, many of which are open relatively late into the, If you have held a valid motorbike license in your home country for more than three months, you, You can see the statistics by prefecture and type of institution here, Application for Certificate of Eligibility, Minato Citys website is also a good source for updated information in English, One checkup per month until your 23rd week, One checkup every two weeks from the 24th until the 35th week, Weekly checkups from the 36th week (40 weeks being the average term of pregnancy). Synthesis of the qualitative literature from low and middle income countries on cultural practices and traditional beliefs influencing the perinatal period. Each group consisted of between 8 and 10 individuals and the participants sat in a horse-shoe fashion with the moderator and rapporteur sitting in the middle. The application for child benefit payments must be made by the householder, which is defined as the parent with the highest income. Neonates are perceived to be vulnerable to the evil eyes of jealous community members. A study conducted in Zambia found out that women intentionally delayed the initiation of Ante Natal Care (ANC) to avoid making several visits to the healthcare facility and to reduce the overall costs of patronising the facilities (Menon et al., Citation2010). when the woman is almost due for delivery she must not eat ripe plantain, it is called kyem d3 which means that you will be feeling some sweet sensations in your body when you are pushing during pregnancy but the baby will never come out but that practice is now extinct so now we eat the ripe plantain (Elderly woman, FGD). Epub 2013 Jul 8. Men are household leaders in various cultures, and some Ob/Gyn patients defer to their partner for medical decisions. Midwifery. Data collected in local language was first translated into English by two people; the interviewer and another person and the translation were compared for consistency. However, accepting harmless social practices during labour will improve trust and cater for communitys worldview about childbirth and foster skilled delivery. for that one it is like a satanic illness, instead of the baby growing big after forty days, the baby will be growing small, soft body with Asram and the fontanelle is not closing up so when you are pregnant you must see those who have these medicines, they will give you herbs to drink and also use to prepare soup so even if someone wants to harm your baby after delivery it wont work (Woman with child under five, FGD). Typically, you will need to have your regular check-ups at the hospital or clinic where you will deliver from about the 32nd week of your pregnancy, regardless. Pregnancy Beliefs and Customs - daytranslations.com And because the new mothers body is considered vulnerable, she has to wrap her belly in a cloth girdle or sash called a faja, and keep her head and neck covered as well. Birth Customs Around the World - Parents As directed by Maynard and Purvis (Citation1994), participants listening to tapes after interviews is an important step in qualitative data analysis even though it is frequently overlooked. (Citation2007), memoing involves putting down initial ideas, issues, observation and patterns that can be connected, compared or contrasted while doing the coding. I tried to practice exclusive breastfeeding but at a point in time the weather was too hot and as adult we sweat and feel thirty. Maternity homes generally provide a more homely environment for natural births, and are typically cheaper than general and private hospitals. This was because of the belief that the drug made their babies big making that results in difficult delivery. New moms here miss out on a lot of the fun. Newborn health also constitutes a human right as specified in the Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNICEF, Citation2013). A participant shared her experience with the quote: When I gave birth, my baby was not well but we managed the condition at home I was afraid sending the baby to the hospital would expose her to witches in the community (Woman with child under five).