Question

A patient’s cultural beliefs and practices are important influencing factors during the prenatal period. A new patient in the clinic has just moved to the area from India and speaks some English.

1. What cultural beliefs and practices in regard to Western medicine can affect a patient’s participation in prenatal care?

2. What can the nurse do to provide culturally sensitive care

3. Compare the advantages and disadvantages for each type of childbearing setting: hospital, freestanding birth center, and home.

Answer 1

Prenatal care: The care recieved by a woman during her pregnancy period is called. Pre natal refers to 'being or happening before birth.

1. Influence of Cultural beliefs and practices on Prenatal care :

Patient participation in Prenatal care can be influenced by the cultural beliefs and practices . In India pregnancy is viewed as a normal physiological phenomenon , that doesn't need any healthcare, unless a problem occurs with pregnancy. Western medicine encourage the pregnant women to have regular prenatal check up. In India also most of the educated people in middle class and upper classes are depending on western medicine and they are the consumers of western medicine along with the knowledge and use of 'Ayurveda ' in between. Most of them are preferring boy child than female.

Main difference in beliefs related to nutrition can be seen among the Indian women, that pregnant women used to avoid all type of 'Hot food ' to avoid miscarriage. They used to have more 'Cold foods'. Food restrictions may affect mother's and fetus' health.

( According to a traditional belief, some food are categorised into 'hot food ' and some are ' Cold food '. Eg: Hot foods- apple , mango, oranges, ginger, garlic, onion , broccoli, spinach, root vegetables. Cold foods- melons, pumpkin, cauiflower, asparagus, sweet fruits etc).

Women from rich family, used to get nurturing and caring from all family members during her prenatal period.

2 . Culturally sensitive care :

Nurses has to develop skills for culturally competent care.For providing culturally sensitive care nurses have to :

* Aware about different cultures, religious beliefs and tradition.

* partcipate in different staff development programme organized for the purpose of ' Culture sensitive Health care '.

* Respect and value others culture .

* Understand about the specific cultural and traditional beliefs and practices related to pregnancy, child birth etc.

* Make use of interpreters, culture brokers to communicate with the clients effectively.

3. Advatages and Disadvantages of childbearing setting:

* Hospital

* Freestanding birthcenter

* Home

Hospital

Advantages:

- Safest option for childbirth setting, as Health professionals can take care of mother in case of any  risk.

- acess to pain relief

- advanced technologies

- Operation room is ready in case of any emergency.

Disadvantages:

- Some people may get frightened or intimidated by hospital setting

* Freestanding birth center:

Advantages:

- clean environment

- Environment for facilitating delivery

- emergency medications and new born care

Disadvantages:

-No advanced technologies or operating room in case of emergency

- chances of dangers.

* Home

Advantages:

- can feel more relaxation in the familiar setting of home.

- No need to leave family and other children in your care.

- No interruption for the Labour process by going to hospital after starting the pain.

Disadvantages:

- Chances of dangers for high risk mothers ( hypertension, large fetus, difficult labour).

- No advanced technology or medications