CULTURAL CARES FOR INFANTS OF THE PHUTHAI’S FAMILY IN NAKHON PHANOM PROVINCE

Abstract

     Families of Phuthai tribe in Nakhon Phanom had been applying and integrating local wisdom and culture into infants’ health care. The main goal of this study was to describe the role of cultural beliefs in Infants’ health cares among families in of Phuthai’s tribe in Nakhon Phanom. This ethnographic research was conducted by in-depth interview and observation. The participants composed of 22 mothers, 16 grandmothers, and 5 local intellectuals from Nakhon Phanom. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistic was performed to analyze the data.

     The results of this study showed that “holistic & coexist care” had been employing as an infant health care culture of the tribe started from the birth and beyond. Family’s holistic care would cover infants’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions based on the tribal belief. Simultaneously, modern or coexist care was also applied alongside.

Therefore, it was very essential that nursing professions recognize the importance of both ways of Phuthai’s infant health care in order to develop health care system in postpartum unit and nursery unit at a hospital. The system should support the tribe’s culture and wisdom started from the birth of an infant. In addition, health care providers in Phuthai’s community should apply the tribe’s care culture in order to promote infant’s holistic health care in the future.