Cambodian Beliefs and Practices Related to Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate the meaning of spirituality in pregnancy by asking, "How does your faith or spirituality affect your pregnancy?" Background: Despite the emphasis of midwives on the holistic nature of pregnancy, few have described the meaning that spirituality may have for pregnant women. The study was guided by the HOPE Theory (Holistic Obstetrical Problem Evaluation). Methods: Study participants were recruited from a nonrandom convenience sample of 130 pregnant African American and Caucasian women between 16 and 28 weeks' gestational age. Content analysis was conducted, and data were coded and clustered under major themes. Results: Of the study sample, 62% were African American and 38% Caucasian; 76% were Medicaid recipients. Seven themes emerged on how faith or spirituality affected the women's pregnancy, including 1) strength and confidence, 2) guidance and support, 3) protection, 4) blessing or reward, 5) time to communicate with God, 6) help with difficult moral choices, and 7) a generalized positive effect. Of the 62 women who responded that spirituality affected their pregnancy, the overarching theme was a desire for connectedness to oneself, others, or God. Conclusion: The findings from this study emphasize the importance of spirituality within a holistic framework and the need for health care providers to attend to spirituality as a resource in pregnancy for those who value it.

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of a Cambodian Traditional Postpartum Medicine, Sra Thnam, among Cambodian Women (15-30 Years) Living in Massachusetts.

“…39 Refugee and immigrant women face many challenges in their host countries, particularly in regards to maternal and child health. 6,12,18 These women experience pregnancy and childbirth in a Western model of health care which can isolate them from larger social networks and traditional health practices, 36 as well as engage them in cultural norms that may con ict with their cultural practices. As such, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experiences shift at a critical and vulnerable time in a refugee or immigrant woman's life.…”

“…10 Socio-demographic factors and poverty indicators have been associated with maternal health among Cambodian women in the U.S. [10][11] A heightened sense of cultural identity, isolation, and poor access to, utilization of, and/or negative experiences in the U.S. health system 10 have resulted in a greater reliance on traditional health practices among Cambodian women aged 15-30 years. 12 Traditional health practices, de ned as the sum of knowledge, skills, and practices based on cultural beliefs, have been used to maintain and improve physical and mental health. 13 Passed down through generations, such practices promote optimal health and achieve balance.…”

“…17,18 Consumption of sra thnam during the postpartum period is believed to promote milk production, warm the mother's body, and help "clean" the reproductive system, 12,17 potentially important health bene ts for women during and after the vulnerable period of pregnancy. [15][16] However, depending on alcohol concentration combined with the frequency of intake, pre-and postnatal consumption of sra thnam may pose maternal health risks, particularly given reports of preparation with vodka or cognac in the U.S. 12,19 Because traditional practices are not considered in health screenings by medical providers in the U.S., 12 there is a fundamental gap in understanding how postpartum practices, such as the use of sra thnam, has been adapted for medical purposes by the Cambodian community. To our knowledge, the associations between sra thnam, as a maternal health practice, and socio-demographic factors and poverty indicators have not been previously examined in the literature.…”