Biomaterial Database

Women's experiences of cultural and traditional health beliefs about pregnancy and childbirth in Zambia: An ethnographic study. 2021

Leena Honkavuo

Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Department of Caring Science, Åbo Akademi University, Vasa, Finland.

Zambian women's pregnancy and childbirth are linked to a variety of cultural and traditional practices, activities and beliefs. These existential events affect the women's health and the newborn's care. In this study we used an interpretative ethnographic design. Individual deep interviews with eight Zambian women were carried out. The formation of family, pregnancy and childbirth are important for strengthening generational traditions and preserving culture. Having many children is especially important for Zambian men as it increases their status in the society. Family continuity is related to the legacy of generations through the spirits of the ancestors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008297	Male		Males
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D003469	Culture	A collective expression for all behavior patterns acquired and socially transmitted through symbols. Culture includes customs, traditions, and language.	Cultural Relativism,Customs,Beliefs,Cultural Background,Background, Cultural,Backgrounds, Cultural,Belief,Cultural Backgrounds,Cultural Relativisms,Cultures,Relativism, Cultural,Relativisms, Cultural
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015024	Zambia	A republic in southern Africa, south of DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO and TANZANIA, and north of ZIMBABWE. Its capital is Lusaka. It was formerly called Northern Rhodesia.	Northern Rhodesia,Rhodesia, Northern,Republic of Zambia
D036801	Parturition	The process of giving birth to one or more offspring.	Birth,Childbirth,Births,Childbirths,Parturitions