From concept to practice: Food behaviour of Chinese immigrants in London

Wheeler, Erica F.; Tan, Swee Poh

doi:10.1080/03670244.1983.9990731

Cited by 12 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…Hot foods consumed during the early cold stage of pregnancy include items such as meats, coffee, alcohol, fat and sometimes vitamins (Manderson and Mathews, 1981b;Pillsbury, 1978;Tung, 1980;Wheeler and Tan, 1983). In Vietnam, some of these hot food items are labeled as "tonic" food and considered as medicines to give the baby food energy, to increase blood volume and to maintain the mother's health (Hart, Rajadhon and Coughlin 1965;Manderson and Mathews, 1981a;1981b).…”

Section: Stages Of Pregnancy and Appropriate Dietmentioning

confidence: 98%

Dietary habits and obstetrical service utilization during pregnancy and lactation among Tai Dam women of central Iowa

Stewart

Whiteford

1987

Ecology of Food and Nutrition

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Throughout the world, pregnancy and lactation are considered to be periods of vulnerability to the well-being of both mother and child. Cross-culturally the physiological, metabolic and psychological requirements of childbirth are met differently. This study investigates the nutritional and medical worldview of Tai Dam refugee women living in central Iowa. It focuses on perceptions of pregnancy and lactation, dietary beliefs which affect the foods consumed during these stages of the female lifecycle, and provides an assessment of the health implications to Tai Dam women. Physician/patient communication is addressed, particularly in terms of how cultural traditions inhibit the utilization of available health care during pregnancy. In addition, this article examines social change and its effect on traditional health practices. INTRODUCTIONThroughout the world, pregnancy and lactation are considered to be periods of vulnerability to the well-being of both mother and child. These are times, for example, when women in many cultures often are thought to possess supernatural powers, or be influenced by them. In most cultures specific foods are equated with health (Foster and Anderson, 1978). Although there is an enormous range of diversity, dietary precautions are commonly followed in order to promote a healthy pregnancy and ensure successful lactation.Cross-culturally the physiological, metabolic and psychological requirements of childbirth are met differently. In the United States, for example, the emphasis on nutrition cautions against the use of alcohol and certain medications, while encouraging the consumption of milk, protein-rich foods and vitamins. In other cultures, dietary restrictions may be influenced by the belief that certain common foods cause specific maladies. For example, Tamilnad women of South India believe ingestion of fish during pregnancy will produce fits in the child (Ferro-Luzzi, 1973). In many Asian cultures precautions are based on the belief that a balance of foods containing "hot" and "cold" qualities is essential. In rural Latin America, pregnant women avoid many foods with hot qualities. Similarly, traditional Chinese women 121 F.N.-B demonstrate this principle by avoiding the overuse of hot spices in their diet .Regardless of the cultural reasoning behind dietary alterations, nutrition during pregnancy affects the health of both mother and child. For health officials who wish to provide traditional ethnic women with pre-and post-natal care, familiarity with the cultural differences between health providers and patient can ease communication and provide more successful health care.The purpose of this study is to investigate the nutritional and medical worldview of Tai Dam refugee women living in central Iowa and obtain previously unavailable information on their traditional belief system. Specifically, it focuses on perceptions of pregnancy and lactation, dietary beliefs which affect the foods consumed during these stages of the female lifecycle, and provides an assessment of the health i...

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