Cross-cultural Birthing Traditions Research Paper (Research Paper Sample)

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Cross-Cultural Birthing Traditions
Child birthing marks the beginning a new life for an infant and is associated with different traditions based on the various cultures of the world. Although being a universal process, various communities have various specification based on their cultural beliefs, customs and values that vitally define the child birth process. Childbirth culturally varies based on the aspects of birth positions, the management labor pains, preferences for the birth settings or locations and handling of the placenta. However, the western maternal care larges assumes the social-cultural aspect of child birth and simply regards the process as a biological process.
Over the years, the westernized maternal care has been practiced in nearly all parts of the world until without much regard to the socio-cultural aspect of the process (Jordan, Brigitte, and Robbie, Davis-Floyd). One of the supposed roles of the westernized and modern maternal care is to help reduce maternal mortality through improved nursing skills and biomedical interventions. Through common experience, this approach has not adequately addressed the target issues, and several mothers in the world still prefer the integration of their traditions as part of childbirth and maternal. Cultural differences among women have variedly affected their response and use of essential services offered in maternal care hence the need to establish an integrated maternal care system that significantly appreciates the social differences among maternal patients. Using childbirth aspects of setting, positioning, pain management and placenta handling this paper discusses the cultural practices associated with childbirth in Asian, African and South American cultures, in comparison with the Western culture.
Based on the concepts of ethnocentrism, acculturation and cultural competence, the paper critically evaluates the integration of the cultural and social aspects of child birth into western maternal care culture and the resulting impact on contemporary maternal care. The information outlined in the paper is important and can be used as a framework for enhancing culturally competent and diverse maternity care aimed at empowering and comforting expectant mothers during the process of labor and infant delivery.
Cultural Practices Associated with Child-bearing
Culture is defined as the integrated patterns of human behavior inclusive of the language, actions, communications, thoughts or values and racial, ethnic, religious and social groups. According to Wilson, Linda culturally competent maternity care is acknowledging and appreciating the diverse cultures of various women engaged in childbirth as opposed to expecting them to assimilate to health institutions birth practices. The successful outcome of the process of childbearing is implicated by several variables including the underlying culture of the mothers and the society they live. It is therefore important that midwives and nurses involved in childbirth have full awareness of the prevalent and unique childbirth traditions of the society around their working vicinity.
From a cross-cultural perspective, the differences in the birthplace, ethnicity, race and the religion of the childbearing mothers play a significant role in their process of making choices regarding medicated or non-medicated child births. For instance, the medicated birth is deeply engraved in the US and Canadian cultures whereas most Japanese mothers have a preference for non-medicated and humanized childbirths. Mothers of African-American descent, on the other hand, have preferences for the medicated birth due to their experience of inadequate maternal care services and negative attitude of health care personnel towards them (Behruzi, Roxana, Hatem, Marie and Misago, Chizuru). Therefore, understanding the cultural perspectives and social beliefs of the mothers on child delivery is an important factor in the process.
Child delivery in most African communities is treated with high esteem and accompanied by sanctity and delicacy (Beinempaka, Florence, Tibanyendera, Basil and MacDonald, Noni). In the various African societies, child birth practices are based on the traditions relating to spirituality, religion, and availability of infant care resources. In a research among various Nigerian communities Esienumoh, Ekpoanwan, Akpabio, Indogesit and Etowa, Joesphine reveal that child birth practice are affected by the different cultural and religious differences between the nurses and the expectant mothers. The childbirth process is influenced by settings of birth, their cultural beliefs of infant handling and the availability delivery care for both the mother and the infant.
A World Health Organization, WHO bulletin on the cultural perceptions associated with child birth in several communities in Peru, reveal that satisfying birth experiences are associated with the integration of traditional birth practices in society. Community health agents are important in establishing an appropriate link between the health care providers and the expectant mothers by bridging the cultural misunderstandings during child delivery. Also, the importance of cultural integration was revealed through the preference of the use of the local and cultural Quechua language within a sufficient period to enable the midwives and the expectant mothers to build trust among each other.
Cross-Cultural Variables of Childbirth
Childbirth Setting
The setting of the child birth is an important aspect that could influence the pain management, the birth position, and even placenta handling. In most cultures, natural child delivery is associated with delivery in non-hospital settings or in settings where artificial medications are not being used in the process (Kang, Hye-Kyung).
Even in the current times, the settings of the child birth is determined by economic factors such as road infrastructure and the fiscal prowess of the family. Poor access to health facilities in some parts of South American countries and various African countries is a major barrier that has confined most of the mothers to homestead settings for the delivery of their child. Also, some families in these areas do not have enough financial resources to the expenses that come with delivery in modern health care facilities. In contemporary medical models, governments of various countries have set up mobile clinics that are offering accessible maternal and child delivery services.
The allocation of community delivery assistants known as doulas among the immigrant women in the United States is one of the contemporary programs that have enhanced the integration of traditional and modern or western-style childbirth settings.
Mother childbirth among Asian communities is associated with isolated due to the belief that childbirth is related to pollution and impunity. The period of confinement in particular setting goes up to forty days.
Among South America’s Peru villages the mothers prefer a quiet, dark and well-ventilated room shielded from the view of persons who have not been permitted to them. Since the family is allowed to hang around, the mothers prefer leaving the location of delivery at their own time and pleasure rather than after a specific period. This is to allow the mother to have ample resting time after birth. According to a WHO bulletin, the delivery settings and location are a place of choice for the mothers provided the right conditions of privacy, and comfort is met.
The traditional preferences of birth settings among African communities vary based on the availability of family-based care and religion. Among the villages in southern Nigeria, most mothers prefer delivering in church signified by the presence of their priest’s wife during the delivery process. This is viewed to be important in ensuring the infant is born a spiritual individual devoid of evil attacks. The women also prefer areas where their husbands and close family members can access to help bear needs of the mother and the child. Also, delivery through contemporary facilities is limited by the high hospital bills and maternity care charges (Esienumoh, Ekpoanwan, Akpabio, Indogesit and Etowa, Josephine).
Although traditionally, most African women prefer to deliver in traditional settings due to the high costs of delivery, most of the women in African countries are starting to appreciate hospital delivery. This has been further helped by the involvement of governments in providing free delivery and maternal care for the mothers. The rise of various maternal care campaigns among feminist groups and health institutions has helped most mothers in adopting child delivery in modern maternity care facilities.
It is therefore important that the modern healthcare centers encourage the deployment services with both cultural and scientific significance to the expectant mother and the process of child delivery. The mother should be helped to access important delivery information that positively portrays their own beliefs and the values they uphold with high regard. Even in their rural settings, the health care system should ensure access to appropriate resources that are necessary for childbirth.
Management of Pain
Universally, pain during labor is perceived as a severe and most agonizing childbirth experience by most women. Most prospective mothers are therefore worried about labor pain and how they can get to manage it during child birth. In most culture, the anticipation of pain in early pregnancy is associated with intense fear, panic, and depression. Labour pain, manifests as aching in the lower abdomen, pelvic pain, and pain at the back. Various culture has therefore various but almost similar strategies for the management of labor pain.
The attitude of nurses and the midwives to the mother during labor pain is a major fact...