Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COLLEGE OF NURSING
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It is a known fact that the United States spends more money than any other
country on health care and more on maternal health than any other type of
hospital care; however, women in the United States have a higher risk of dying of
pregnancy-related complications than those in 40 other countries. Health
disparities in the United States also play a role in increased maternal morbidity
and maternal mortality, although it is unclear to what extent. For example,
African American women are nearly four times more likely to die of pregnancy-
related complications. Than White women. These rates and disparities have not
improved in more than 20 years (Amnesty International, USA, 2010). Subcultures
within the United States have very different practices, values, and beliefs about
childbirth and the roles of women, men, social support networks, and health care
practitioners.
One such subculture includes proponents of the “back to nature” movement,
who are often vegetarian, use lay midwives for home deliveries, and practice
herbal or naturopathic medicine. Other groups that might have distinct cultural
practices include African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, Middle
Eastern groups, Orthodox Jewish groups, Asians, and recent immigrants, among
others.
. This belief complicates the use of contraceptives requiring the use of both
hands, such as a diaphragm. Control methods. However, in cases where the
mother’s life is in jeopardy, abortion is not opposed (Kolatch, 2000).
In some African cultures, there are strongly held beliefs and practices related
to birth spacing. Because postpartum sexual activity has traditionally been
taboo, some women leave their home for as long as 2 years to avoid
pregnancy
Cultural Influences on Fertility Control
It is common for health professionals to have misconceptions about
contraception and the prevention of pregnancy in cultures different from their
own. A qualitative study by Eckhardt and Lauderdale (2013) sought to identify and
describe the barriers to family planning in North Kamagambo, Kenya, to
understand the cultural context in which they exist. Since the Lwala Community
Hospital’s opening in the North Kamagambo region of Kenya in 2007, the number
of patients seeking contraceptives and family planning counseling has increased.
However, maternal mortality remains high and the culture expects women to
bear many children. Although this places a large burden on women’s health and
increases a lifetime risk of maternal mortality, cultural and religious hesitance
toward family planning persists.
Nurses providing family planning services must take care to be culturally sensitive
so that women can be assisted in examining their own attitudes, beliefs, and
sense of gynecologic wellbeing regarding fertility control.
PREGNANCY AND CULTURE
Childbirth Postexcision
Excision has been described by the WHO (2010) as a complete or partial
removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without the labia majora.
Although communal advantages and some personal benefits have been cited in
the literature for female excision, deleterious outcomes have been noted to
occur, including:
a. psychological stress
b. adverse obstetric
c. perinatal outcomes such as postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn risks of
stillbirth, death, need for resuscitation at birth, and LBW (. In order to
understand the impacts of excision on childbirth, hermeneutic
phenomenology was used to analyze the narratives of four women who had
been excised
Clinical Implications:
Break the “taboo of silence.” The women prefer an open, respectful
discussion regarding their excision.
Share explicit care plans to identify and share each woman’s wishes
regarding her excision, particularly when multiple providers are involved.
o One Hispanic taboo involves the traditional belief that an early baby shower
will invite bad luck, or mal ojo, the evil eye
Other beliefs and practices involve ceremonies and recommendations about
physical and sexual activity.
A cultural belief may cause harm if there is a poor neonatal outcome and the
mother blames herself.
For example, the mother whose fetus has died as a result of a cord accident,
and who believes that hanging laundry caused the cord to encircle the baby’s
neck or body, might experience severe guilt.
Prescriptive Beliefs
Countries Beliefs
Crow Indian Remain active during pregnancy to aid the
baby’s circulation
Mexican and Cambodian Keep active during pregnancy to ensure a small
baby and an easy delivery
Pueblo and Navajo Indian, Remain happy to bring the baby joy and good
Mexican, Japanese fortune
Mexican Sleep flat on your back to protect the baby
Haitian, Mexican Continue sexual intercourse to lubricate the
birth canal and prevent a dry labor
Filipino Continue daily baths and frequent shampoos
during pregnancy to produce a clean baby
Restrictive Beliefs
Mexican, Haitian, Asian Avoid cold air during pregnancy to prevent
physical harm to the fetus
African American, Hispanic, Do not reach over your head or the cord will
White, Asian wrap around the baby’s neck
Vietnamese Avoid weddings and funerals or you will bring
bad fortune to the baby
Vietnamese, Filipino, Samoan Do not continue sexual intercourse or harm will
come to you and baby
Navajo Indian Do not tie knots or braid or allow the baby’s
father to do so because it will cause difficult
labor
Pueblo Indian, Asian Do not sew
Taboos
Mexican Avoid lunar eclipses and moonlight or the baby
might be born with a deformity
Vietnamese Do not walk on the streets at noon or 5 o’clock
because this might make the spirits angry
Navajo Indian Do not join in traditional ceremonies like Yei or
Squaw dances or spirits will harm the baby
Haitian Do not get involved with persons who cast
spells or the baby will be eaten in the womb
Orthodox Jewish Do not say the baby’s name before the naming
ceremony or harm might come to the baby
African American Do not have your picture taken because it
might cause stillbirth
South Asian Canadian During the postpartum period, avoid visits from
widows, women who have lost children, and
people in mourning because they will bring bad
fortune to the baby