Health beliefs about pregnancy and participation in prenatal care among urban Canadian Indian women

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dc.contributor.authorSokoloski, Elizabeth Helen.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-12-08T18:58:59Z
dc.date.available2009-12-08T18:58:59Z
dc.date.issued1989en_US
dc.degree.disciplineNursingen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Nursing (M.N.)en_US
dc.description.abstractPrevious 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.en_US
dc.format.extentxi, 169 leaves ;en_US
dc.format.extent6914782 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifierocm02754020en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/3778
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.rightsThe reproduction of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner.en_US
dc.titleHealth beliefs about pregnancy and participation in prenatal care among urban Canadian Indian womenen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobayesen_US
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