As for this week activity post, I decided to talk about how culture effect birth in Malaysia. When it comes to health belief in Malaysia, it is based on humoral medical theory. Illnesses, body states, foods and medicines are regarded as ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ depending on the effect on the body (MALAYSIAN ETHNICITY AND BACKGROUND, n.d.). Pregnancy is considered as a hot state and cold food is usually preferred to avoid overheating. However, after giving birth, women are said to be cold. Thus, warm drinks and hot foods is preferred. In additional, after childbirth, women may observe a period of confinement of 30 – 44 days and during this time, they usually do not leave the house and may stay by a heater and dress warmly (MALAYSIAN ETHNICITY AND BACKGROUND, n.d.).I will explain more detail toward the end because it is related to postpartum care.
Traditionally, women who are pregnant were care by village midwives – starting from during pregnancy care to after birth care (MALAYSIAN ETHNICITY AND BACKGROUND, n.d.). However, nowadays, people prefer to use biomedical health services where pregnant women visit hospital for checkup and also giving birth. Jordan mention in his article that “… screening and stress tests, ultrasound examinations, electronic fetal monitoring and the like” and “… labor room is a n operating room where C-sections can be performed”. All this technology that Jordan explain are available in general hospital and also private hospital in Malaysia. As you can see, midwives are becoming less common in this culture. This is because there have been a few reported cases of mothers dying of complications after unattended home births (Murugesan, 2017).
The most interesting part in Malaysian culture is the postpartum care specifically among Malay women. In Malay culture, postpartum period is strongly connected to cultural beliefs and traditional practices that I mention earlier. Therefore, there are food restrictions and certain practices that included. The aim of these practices is to return the well-being and safety of mothers and children (Shariffah S.S.J., 2014). During the confinement period or it is called “dalam pantang”, there are certain foods are avoided and even forbidden. The Postpartum food restriction is broadly defined as beliefs and taboos on food that was adhered during the postpartum period by the new mothers which are socially constructed and shaped by the perceptions and practices of the culture (Shariffah S.S.J., 2014). Besides food restriction, after giving birth, Women are said to be in the state of imbalance, which may result in weakness and vulnerability. Therefore, they are advised to follow a particular confinement practices like avoid sexual intercourse, avoid the exposure to wind and cold and avoided performing strenuous household chores (Shariffah S.S.J., 2014).
The postpartum practices or the confinement period is a huge deal in Malay society. Many private hospitals actually offer package for postpartum care. Moreover, some hire nurse or midwives to help them during confinement period. In this world of modernization, they still practice this culture. Even though, people nowadays did not follow all the belief, but they still do some of it that importance for their health and their child.
Reference:
Jordan, B. 1992. Technology and Social Interaction: Notes on the Achievement of Authoritative Knowledge in Complex Settings. Institute for Research on Learning.
MALAYSIAN ETHNICITY AND BACKGROUND. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/159611/malaysian-preg-prof.pdf
Shariffah, S.S.J. 2014. BELIEFS AND PRACTISES SURROUNDING POSTPARTUM PERIOD AMONG MALAY WOMEN. Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Murugesan, M. (2017). A safe birth. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/heal/2017/10/297398/safe-birth