Health beliefs about pregnancy and participation in prenatal care among urban Canadian Indian women
Date
1989
Authors
Sokoloski, Elizabeth Helen.
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Abstract
Previous research indicates that the health of Canadian Indian women and their infants is less than that of other Canadian women and their infants. Indian women do not participate regularly in conventional prenatal care. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to explore the health beliefs of Canadian Indian women about pregnancy and their participation in prenatal care. In-depth, tape-recorded interviews, totalling 45 hours, were conducted with seven Indian women informants in a large urban setting. Content analysis was used to identify themes emerging from the data. Canadian Indian women in this study conceptualized pregnancy in a Spiritual context and believed pregnancy was a healthy natural process requiring no intervention. Consequently, some women do not believe that they are susceptible to serious, asymptomatic, or symptomatic illness during pregnancy. Women believe they are responsible for "taking care of themselves" during pregnancy. Therefore, they follow cultural practices betieved to promote a healthy pregnancy: avoiding harmful substances and technological interventions, maintaining positive emotions, adequate nutrition and activity. Indian women are often dissatisfied with the interactions that occur with health-care providers in prenatal clinics. Indian women's expectations are often not realized and their beliefs about pregnancy may be in conflict with those of health-care providers. For many Indian women barriers to attending for prenatal care outweigh the benefits. Barriers to prenatal care could be reduced by improving communication and providing culture-specific care in a holistic fashion. The study highlights implications for nursing practice, education, and research.