title: Doing the month in a Taiwanese postpartum nursing center: an ethnographic study.
abstract: Traditionally Chinese and Taiwanese postpartum women conducted postpartum ritual practices, called "doing the month," at home. Today, many Taiwanese women undertake this ritual in postpartum nursing centers. However, little is known about how the traditional practices are being transformed in relation to contemporary health care in Taiwan. In this ethnographic study observations were carried out in a large post-partum center attached to a major hospital in Taipei for nine months, and 27 postpartum women were interviewed. Data were analyzed using ethnographic approaches to extract codes and categories. Doing the month was reshaped by being relocated from the home to a healthcare setting. Midwives took on roles traditionally taken by family members, which had an impact on family roles and relationships. Some postpartum practices were maintained, based on traditional explanations. However, many were modified or challenged, based on explanations from contemporary scientific knowledge. Midwives need to be aware that there could be differences between their culture of care and the cultural values of the women they care for. This study informs culturally appropriate postpartum care and support for women with traditional and contemporary cultural beliefs and attitudes to doing the month in a range of healthcare contexts.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Winsome
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: St John
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Venturato
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003469:Culture; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Chinese culture; Taiwan childbirth; cross-cultural health practices postpartum care; cultural values; ethnography