title: Honoring Motherhood: The Meaning of Childbirth for Tongan Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the meaning of childbirth for Tongan women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this qualitative descriptive study, 38 Tongan women, 18 from Tonga and 20 from the United States, who had given birth in the past year were invited to share their perceptions of childbirth. Themes were generated collaboratively by the research team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overarching theme was honoring motherhood; other themes include using strength to facilitate an unmedicated vaginal birth, describing the spiritual dimensions of birth, adhering to cultural practices associated with childbearing, and the influence of the concept of respect on childbearing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the value Tongan women and their families place on motherhood can help nurses to give culturally sensitive nursing care. Tongan beliefs and cultural practices should be respected. Nurses should assess women's personal preferences for their care and advocate for them as needed. Sensitivity to stoicism is important, especially on pain control and patient education. Nurses should be aware of Tongan values regarding modesty and respect, and provide an appropriate care environment. A culturally competent nurse understands the importance of sociocultural influences on women's health beliefs and behaviors and generates appropriate interventions.
authors.affiliation: Shelly J. Reed is an Associate Teaching Professor at Brigham Young University, College of Nursing, Provo, UT. The author can be reached via e-mail at shelly-reed@byu.edu Lynn Clark Callister is a Professor Emerita at Brigham Young University, College of Nursing, Provo, UT. 'Ana Kavaefiafi is a Nurse Midwife (Retired) at Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Tonga, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga. Cheryl Corbett is an Associate Teaching Professor at Brigham Young University, College of Nursing, Provo, UT. Debra Edmunds is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Brigham Young University, College of Nursing, Provo, UT.
authors.forename: Shelly J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Lynn Clark
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Callister
authors.forename: 'Ana
authors.initials: '
authors.lastname: Kavaefiafi
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edmunds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001294:Attitude to Health; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014058:Tonga / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States