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Cultural Birthing Practices and Experiences

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Cultural Birthing Practices and Experiences Cultural Birthing Practices Early Intervention and and Experiences Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Perinatal Project Migrant Resource Centre Cultural Birthing Practices and Experiences BAULKHAM HILLS HOLROYD PARRAMATTA MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTRE 15 Hunter St. Parramatta NSW 2150 | Po Box 1081, Parramatta NSW 2124 Phone: (02) 9687 9901 | Fax: (02) 9687 9990 | E-mail: [email protected] Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Early Intervention and www.bhhpmrc.org.au Migrant Resource Centre Perinatal Project Cultural Birthing Practices and Experiences Norma Boules CALD Family support worker BHHP Migrant Resource Centre Layout Design Norma Boules (CALD Family Support Worker) Editing Zulekha Nazir (Co-ordinator of Early Intervention and perinatal project) Graphics & Printing Dreamvision Design (11A George Street, Parramatta - Ph: 9635 4304) Norma Boules CALD Family support worker BHHP Migrant Resource Centre Contents: Acknowledgement............................................................................ 4 Introduction......................................................................................... 5 Ethnic Diversity.................................................................................... 6 Experiences in Pregnancy Overseas and Australia......................... 7 Afghanistan......................................................................................... 8 Burmese............................................................................................... 9 Cambodia........................................................................................... 10 China.................................................................................................... 11 Egypt.................................................................................................... 12 Ghana.................................................................................................. 13 India..................................................................................................... 14 Iranian.................................................................................................. 15 Lebanon - north................................................................................... 16 Lebanon - south.................................................................................. 17 Peru...................................................................................................... 18 South America..................................................................................... 19 Somalia................................................................................................ 20 Cultural Sudanese............................................................................................. 21 Birthing Practices Thailand............................................................................................... 22 Vietnam............................................................................................... 23 and Islam..................................................................................................... 24 Experiences Grandparents Recollections............................................................. 25 Conclusion........................................................................................... 27 References.......................................................................................... 28 Special Thanks..................................................................................... 29 3 Acknowledgments Special Thanks Special Thanks for their contribution I wish to extend my special thanks and appreciation to the “Early Intervention and Perinatal Project of the Baulkham Hills, Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre. I would also like to thank Melissa Australian Chinese Association Montiero Manager of the Baulkham Hills, Holroyd, Parramatta, Migrant Resource Centre for allowing me to undertake this study, which is a CALD Grandparents caring for grandchildren Department of Community Services funded project under Families First. Mothers from the following countries; Also a special thanks to the University Of Western Sydney and my lecturer Afghanistan Fran Gale for her support. Burmese Cambodia China Egypt Ghana India Iran Lebanon (North & South) Peru and South America Somalia Sudan Special Thanks Thailand Vietnam And also a special Thank You to Zulekha Nazir for her generous support and contribution. Coordinator of the Early Intervention and Perinatal Project of the Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre. 4 29 Reference Introduction Australia has become one of the most ethnically diverse societies in the world, with persons from over 229 different birthplaces CALD Women Australia Exploring Women Central Care in Maternity Care Project 2006. according to the Australian Bureau of Accessed on 03-11-06 from hhtp://www.healthissuescentre.org.au Statistics (ABS). The 1996 Census reports that 21.98% of the Galanti, G.A. (1997) Caring for Patients from Different Cultural. WJM Western Journal of Medicine 200 July population was recorded as being born 173 (1): 67-68. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. overseas, it is important to mention that language and religion also create a level of diversity. People have come from all parts of Hafizi H. Iranians. In: Lipson JG, Dibble SL, Minarik PA, eds. Culture and Nursing Care: A Pocket Guide. San the world with different cultural beliefs. These beliefs lead to different practices in maternity Francisco: University of California, San Francisco, Nursing Press; 1996: 169-179. care, such as prenatal and postnatal care, nutrition and social behavior. Donavan J. d’Espaignet, E. Merton, C. van Ommeren M (eds). 1992 Immigrants in Australia: A health In Australia there are significant differences in Profile. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Ethnic Health Series, N’1. Canberra: AGPS the Perinatal Health of CALD Communities women compared with that of the English speaking background and Australian born Down, C & Palacios, V. (2006). Emotional & Social Experience During Period for Women from three cultur- with the exception of Aborigines. ally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities in Western Australia. The Early Intervention and Perinatal Project of the Baulkham Hills, Holroyd and Parramatta Kamyar M. Hedayat MD and Roya Pirzadeh. MD. Issues in Islamic Biomedical Ethics a Primer for the Migrant Resources Centre focuses this study on previous birthing experiences of CALD Pediatrician. women and refugee women having a baby From the Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumount Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan and the Center of overseas and in Australia. Study and Research of Medical Ethics and Ministry of Health Islamic Republic of Iran . PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 The study focuses on the following major No. 4 October 2001, pp. 965-971 areas: Cultural experiences in pregnancies overseas and in Australia Heba Fatteen Bizzari Community and social support The Sebou Ceremony: Welcoming a New Born Baby Egypt www.touregypt.net Cross-cultural appropriateness of services provided Accessibility of information on Health M. Markovic (2001). Responding to cultural Diversity in Women Health: A Resource for Health Professional. services. www.rwh.org.au. The finding of this study should have important implications for improving cultural sensitivity and correctness in service provision for CALD Rice, P.L. (1994) Asian Mothers & Childrearing: The Asian experiences in an English speaking country. women and refugee women in Australia. Melbourne Ausmed Publications. The Early Intervention and Perinatal Project of the Baulkham Hills, Holroyd and Parramatta www.ncbi.nih.gov: Nutrition and child feeding pattern in the Sudan Migrant Resource Centre acknowledges that www.broadeninghorizon.health.wa.gov.au: Cultural awareness Migrant women giving birth Australia. Introduction over the years CALD Communities and www.nodisanility.com : Egyptian Journal Pediatrics refugees from different ethnic backgrounds www.ethnomed.org/culture/somali display different attitudes to expectations of www.epedio02.childrenhc.org pregnancy and childbirth. This project www.parracity.nsw.gov.au : Parramatta City Community Profile 2005 identifies these experiences from other cultures, different belief values and practices. With the creation of this booklet about these experiences, it is important to mention that our aim is to maintain the health and safety of the child and mother. 28 Ethnic Diversity Conclusion The ethnic diversity in Western Sydney and the “In Australia only my husband and I opened the door of the house and celebrated. No one celebrated with prevalence of more emerging culturally and us, there was no cooked food, no happiness around us” linguistically diverse (CALD) groups make it (Down & Palacios 2006) relevant for us to understand the needs and well being of mothers and babies in their cultural context. This study identifies that the Australian Health system could be more sensitive and understanding of the However, it is important to mention that there are traditional birthing practices of CALD communities to relieve the stress experienced by these women, who many publications and published studies, which may feel isolated and separated from their own values. This of course, must be balanced against the discuss the link between culture and reproductive medical expertise that our doctors and hospital provide. More training could be provided to increase their health issues, but they tend
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