Cultural Believes About Pregnancy

 Cultural Believes About Pregnancy

All cultures have beliefs and rituals that surround life's major events, including pregnancy. Some cultures treat pregnancy simply as a natural occurrence; others see it as a medical condition. Obtaining medical care during pregnancy may not seem important to a woman of whose culture defines pregnancy as a natural condition.

How expectant mothers behave during pregnancy may depend in part on the prevalence of traditional home-care remedies and folk beliefs, the importance of indigenous healers, and the influence of health-care professionals in their culture. For example, some Filipinos will not take any medication during pregnancy. Many Mexican American women seek advice about their pregnancy from their mothers and from older women in the community. They may also call on an indigenous healer known as a curandero. In various cultures pregnant women may turn to herbalists, faith healers, root doctors, or spiritualists or help.

When health-care professionals work with expectant mothers, cultural assessment should be an important component of their care.

In other words, they should identify beliefs, values, and behaviors related to childbearing. In particular, ethnic background, degree of affiliation with the ethnic group, patterns of decision making, religious preference, language, communication style, and etiquette may all affect a woman's attitudes about the care needed during pregnancy. Health care workers should assess whether a woman's beliefs or practices pose a threat to her or the fetus. If they do, healthcare professionals should consider a culturally sensitive way to handle the problem.