title: Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postpartum Thai women follow family instructions to recover health at home. This study explores first-time mothers' experiences with postpartum family practices. This article presents the experiences with spiritual healing, one of the three essences of Thai traditional medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interpretive phenomenological study was conducted in rural Thailand. Participants were 16 pregnant women purposively recruited. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, participant observations, and a demographic record and were analyzed using thematic and exemplar analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women adhered to practices and rituals related to beliefs about three essences (the body, mind-heart, and energy). Spiritual healing works on mind-heart essences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A new mother healed her spirit through traditional postpartum practices. The findings provide an understanding of the practices within the context of rural Thai women's families. This information can guide future implementation of postpartum care, with awareness of and respect for cultural practices in fulfilling spiritual needs.
authors.affiliation: Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand p_tasanoa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Prangthip Thasanoh
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Elter
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Holly Powell
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chesla
authors.affiliation: Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Susanha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yimyam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011181:Postnatal Care; D012424:Rural Population; D026443:Spiritual Therapies; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Thai women; postpartum care; spiritual healing