Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing
ResearchPerinatal Beliefs and Practices of Immigrant Punjabi Women Living in Canada
Section snippets
Background literature
Health professionals have struggled in their attempts to address the health care needs of diverse cultural populations and provide culturally safe health care. Over the years, nursing scholars particularly have focused on developing cultural assessment guides and “cultural profiles” for various groups (Anderson 1990, Lipson et al., 1996, Tripp-Reimer et al., 1984, Waxler-Morrison et al., 1990). For example, Choudhry (1998) developed an overview of traditional perinatal beliefs and practices of
Design
This naturalistic qualitative study (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) was directed toward deepening the understanding of the perinatal experiences of new immigrant Punjabi women living in a large urban center in British Columbia, Canada. Members of a South Asian women’s advocacy group were notified and encouraged to discuss the study within the Punjabi community. Physicians and PHNs were also asked to inform their clients about the study and invite eligible women to participate in individual, face-to-face
Health beliefs and practices related to the perinatal period
Pregnancy and the birth of a child is a celebrated event among Punjabi families. Once the women suspected that they were pregnant, they usually told their husbands, who encouraged the women to visit their physicians to have the pregnancy medically confirmed. An announcement was then made to immediate family members, including parents, in-laws, and siblings. Although the women often felt shy sharing this news, they knew it was important to disclose the pregnancy because it would validate the
Discussion
To our knowledge, this study offers the most in-depth, women-centered description of the perinatal experiences of immigrant Punjabi women. Despite the steady acculturation of the immigrant Punjabi community in British Columbia, the perinatal stories shared by the women and the health professionals working with this community highlight the enduring nature of the traditional beliefs and practices associated with the perinatal period. In addition, new Canadian immigration policies, such as the
Study limitations
With the study sample limited to first-time mothers who had recently immigrated to Canada from Punjab, India, the findings cannot be confidently transferred to South Asian immigrants from other regions of India as well as different countries of origin (i.e., Pakistan, Fiji, and Africa). In addition, the study findings may not accurately portray the perinatal experiences of Punjabi women with different immigration histories, such as those individuals who immigrated as a child or are second- and
Recommendations
Based on the study findings and input from focus group participants, several key practice recommendations are offered for nurses and other health professionals (i.e., midwives, physicians) regarding the development of culturally safe perinatal health services for immigrant Punjabi women. These recommendations include:
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Developing undergraduate curricula and continuing education opportunities that ensure health professionals have the knowledge, ability, and sensitivity to create culturally safe
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. Joy Johnson and the Canadian Cancer Society for a Research Scientist Award for Dr. Balneaves.
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2017, JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal NursingCitation Excerpt :Hill et al., 2012, p. 78) Additionally, communication barriers were a major challenge for many women (Bernosky de Flores, 2010b; Grewal et al., 2008; Herrel et al., 2004; Lee et al., 2014; Reitmanova & Gustafson, 2008; Seo et al., 2014; Shaffer, 2002): “I couldn't understand anything from my doctor. My first labor and delivery experience was difficult, but it would've been better if I understood what was happening… Also I couldn't use Korean interpreting services [during labor and delivery]” (Seo et al., 2014, p. 309).