Cultural care of pregnant women and mothers in post-partum period in multiethnic community

Abstract

This qualitative research: ethnographic study was the part of the research project; Cultural care of maternal and children 0-5 years in multiethnic community. Data were collected by using participant observation, in-depth interview, group discussion, talking, and studying relating documents. The informants were the persons who had the pregnancy experiencing and mother. Data were collected during April 2017 to March 2018 and analyzed by using content analysis and typology analysis. The results reflected lives of the mothers before marriage including preparation for building a family, preference of marrying a man from the same ethnic group, marrying is more important than studying. Lives during pregnancy belong to family and husband. Lives during pregnancy and after giving birth involve beliefs and practice associated with cultures of their own ethnics. Pregnancy’s meaning is a normal life situation, however after giving birth mothers are weak due to labor and blood loss. Therefore, mothers need to recover using herbal medicine and specific foods, and they must practice differently from normal situation. Ones who do not practice accordingly will be chronically ill in the future. The results of the study will be useful for the development of cultural care that correspond to the social and cultural contexts of pregnant women and mothers after birth with multiethnic community.