NDLI: Perceptions and understandings of pregnancy, antenatal care and postpartum care among rural Lao women and their families

Content Provider	Springer Nature : BioMed Central
Author	Sychareun, Vanphanom Somphet, Vathsana Chaleunvong, Kongmany Hansana, Visanou Phengsavanh, Alongkone Xayavong, Sisouvanh Popenoe, Rebecca
Abstract	Background Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has the highest maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) due to traditional practice and beliefs on pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. The objective of this study was to get a better understanding of cultural beliefs and practices surrounding pregnancy, ANC and postpartum care among rural women in Lao PDR. Methods Eight focus group discussions and 52 interviews were carried out with delivered women, husbands, mothers, traditional birth attendants, head villagers, Lao Women’s Union members and healthcare workers, in Khammouane and Champasack provinces in Lao PDR. In order to accurately grasp participants’ perceptions and understandings, content analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Results Most women in the study claimed to have attended ANC, but participants also explained that it was unnecessary to attend ANC and give birth at a clinic if the woman felt healthy. Factors that discouraged ANC attendance and giving birth at clinics included: time and money constraints; the perceived necessity of giving birth on a “hot bed”; the need for “mother-roasting” after giving birth; the belief that preparing for a birth was a bad omen for the birth; the belief that colostrum is unhealthy for the newborn child; and the preference for cutting the umbilical cord with a piece of sharpened bamboo. Conclusions Harmful cultural practices such as discarding colostrum should be discouraged; beneficial practices such as family involvement in birthing and keeping a mother warm after birth could be integrated into biomedical practice. Given the prevalence and importance of the cultural understandings we have described in this study, it is clear that proposed changes in cultural practices need to be addressed with sensitivity and that community stakeholders and trusted leaders will need to be involved.
Related Links	https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12884-016-1031-8.pdf
Ending Page	7
Page Count	7
Starting Page	1
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	14712393
DOI	10.1186/s12884-016-1031-8
Journal	BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	16
Language	English
Publisher	BioMed Central
Publisher Date	2016-08-25
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Reproductive Medicine Maternal and Child Health Gynecology Traditional birthing practices Antenatal care Postpartum care Cultural beliefs Low and middle-income country
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Obstetrics and Gynecology
Journal Impact Factor	2.8/2023
5-Year Journal Impact Factor	3.4/2023

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