Taboos, traditional practices and beliefs affecting pregnancy and childbirth in Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto Region: University of Namibia fourth year nursing students’ rural placement experience of 2016, Oshakati campus, Namibia

  • Authors

    • Ester Mulenga University of Namibia
    • Sabina Aisheoiwa David University of Namibia
    • Lucia Ndahambelela Pinehas University of Namiba
    2018-06-05
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v7i1.12165
  • Childbirth, Pregnancy, Rural Placement, Taboos, Traditional Practices

  • Traditional beliefs and practices can influence the health of the people. The purpose of this article was to describe taboos and traditional practices related to pregnancy and childbirth. There was no actual research done, but taboos and traditional practices were identified during rural placement of nursing students in rural health facilities. The results indicated that there are different taboos and traditional practices related to pregnancy and childbirth, some of them are beneficial and others are detrimental to the health of the mother and the baby. In conclusion, there is a need for health care providers to strengthen health education on the importance of diet and also to educate mothers and community members on the taboos which have negative effect on the mother and babies.

     

  • References

    1. [1] Arzoaquoi SK, Essuman EE, Gbagbo FY, Tenkorang EY, Soyiri I, & Laar AK (2015) Motivations for food prohibitions during pregnancy and their enforcement mechanism in rural Ghanaian district. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 11 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0044-0.

      [2] Aziato L, Odai PN & Omenyo CN (2016) Religious beliefs and practices in pregnancy and labour: an inductive qualitative study among post-partum women in Ghana. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 16 doi: 10.1186/s12884-016-0920-01.

      [3] Lamxay V, Boer HJ & Bjork L (2011) Traditions and plant use during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery by Kry ethnic group in Lao PDR. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 7. Available from http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/7/1/14. Accessed November 11, 2017

      [4] Liu N, Mao L, Sun X, Liu L, Chen B, & Ding Q (2006). Postpartum practices of puerperal women and their influencing factors in three regions of Hebei, China. BMC Public Health 6 doi: 10.1186/1472-2458-6-274.

      [5] Meyer- Rochow VB (2009) Food taboos, their origins and purpose. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 5 https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-5-18.

      [6] M`soka NC, Mabuza L & Pretorius D (2015). Cultural and health beliefs of pregnant women in Zambia regarding pregnancy and childbirth. Curationis https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v38i1.1232.

      [7] Rianga RM, Broerse J & Nangulu AK (2017). Food beliefs and practices among the Kalenjin pregnant women in rural Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 13 doi: 1186/s13002-017-0157-8.

      [8] Ugwa EA (2016). Nutritional practices and taboos among pregnant women attending antenatal care at General Hospital in Kano, Northwest Nigeria. Annals of Medical and Health Science Research 6 109-114. Doi: 10.4103/2141-9248.18846.

      [9] University of Namibia, School of Nursing, Midwifery Department (2016). Rural placement of the fourth year logbook. UNAM.

      [10] Washington N (2015, March 19). Eat this, not that: Taboos and pregnancy. Available from www.the.plate.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/19/eat-this-not-that-taboos-and-pregnancy/. Accessed November 11, 2017

      [11] Zerfu TA, Umeta M, & Baye K (2016). Dietary habits, food taboos and perceptions toward weight gain during pregnancy in Arsi, rural Central Ethiopia: A qualitative cross-sectional study. Journal of Health Population and Nutrition 35 doi: 10:1186/s41043-016-0059-8.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Mulenga, E., Aisheoiwa David, S., & Ndahambelela Pinehas, L. (2018). Taboos, traditional practices and beliefs affecting pregnancy and childbirth in Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto Region: University of Namibia fourth year nursing students’ rural placement experience of 2016, Oshakati campus, Namibia. International Journal of Advanced Nursing Studies, 7(1), 68-71. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v7i1.12165