Afghanistan is a highly populated, landlocked country in southern Asia. Most citizens live in individual rural areas or in tribal groups that are war-torn and suffering from the affects of malicious, terrorist groups. Ninety-nine percent of the population is of the Islam or Muslim religion and the remaining one percent makes up a wide variety of typical Asian religions. There are no practicing Christian churches or organizations in Afghanistan. The primary languages spoken are Pashto and Dari with the amount of English speaking citizens on the rise (World Population Review, 2017).
Throughout the world, there are numerous third-world countries where women and children have poor health outcomes due to lack of proper healthcare and healthcare
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Many of the women receive their information from family members and/or tribal members. Many of the women follow the advice of “old wives tales” accompanied by the use of natural herbs to medicate themselves (Pearlman, 2012). Seeking out professional antenatal/prenatal care is almost unheard of and universally unaccepted by the predominantly rural culture. However, the few that make up the population in more urban areas tend to increase their use of antenatal/prenatal care (Rahmani & Brekke, 2013).
A special cultural custom during pregnancy that is important to keep in mind is that within the Muslim culture it is seen as honorable for a woman to hide her pregnancy up until the actual birth. Her modesty is seen as conservative and respectful as well as preventing ‘nazar” or the evil eye from outsiders that could cause spontaneous abortion (Pregnancy in the Afghan Culture, 2012). Taking this into consideration, when labor begins, many women are accompanied by only those who are aware of the birth such as immediate female family members to assist with knowledge based off of personal
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It is the wife’s immediate, female family members with previous birthing experience that aid the mother throughout labor and postpartum. It is considered a breech of the women’s modesty if the man observes the woman throughout any point of the birthing process and postpartum care is not seen as a concern for the presence of the father (Akseer et. al, 2016).
Typically in rural areas, the birthing process is in-home without the presence of a healthcare team. Birthing is a family-oriented and family-initiated affair that results in a lack of postpartum health check-ups and vaccinations. A midwife may be present upon request and if readily available/living within the remote, rural community. A few customs that occur during labor and throughout the postpartum period are keeping men out of the room while a woman is in labor to preserve modesty and her not donning proper religious garb. Another custom that is similar to that of the States is having the mother in the room at assist and support her daughter throughout labor (Akseer et. al., 2016). A custom during postpartum is breastfeeding. However, with the median age of the mothers being so low, education on the proper way to breast feed and provide proper nutrition is solely up to the family to provide. Being that manufactured formula is not readily available to these rural communities, breast feeding is a new mother’s
In every culture health play an essential part of life but means to achieve that healthy being may vary from one country to another depending on their belief system. It is important that professional healthcare providers obtain a proficiency in different cultures and respect these customs as they may influence patient’s behaviors towards receiving care. Birthing is a very important stage in the life of a Vietnamese woman . the Vietnamese culture is very diverse as many of their cultural practices have been influenced by the country’s’ strategic located between china and India. The Vietnamese people religiously observe their traditions and beliefs especially in pregnancy and during and after delivery.
Two-thirds of infants die during the first month of life due to low birth weight (Lia-Hoagberg et al, 1990). One reason for this outcome is primarily due to difficulties in accessing prenatal care. Prenatal health care encompasses the health of women in both pre and post childbearing years and provides the support for a healthy lifestyle for the mother and fetus and/or infant. This form of care plays an important role in the prevention of poor birth outcomes, such as prematurity, low birth weight and infant mortality, where education, risk assessment, treatment of complications, and monitoring of fetus development are vital (McKenzie, Pinger,& Kotecki, 2012). Although every woman is recommended to receive prenatal health care, low-income and disadvantaged minority women do not seek care due to structural and individual barriers.
The Taliban, a forceful political association against women’s rights, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 (Hayes, Brunner, and Rowen). Predominantly, they believe in the religion of Islam, as do most Afghans, and that males are the dominant gender (Hayes, Brunner, and Rowen). They controlled Afghanistan under their “version” of the Islamic laws which many others did not agree with (Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls). The Taliban is composed of Afghan men of various ages who did not grow up in Afghanistan, therefore know little about their country’s culture (Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls). The leader of the Taliban from 1994 to 2001 was Mohammed Omar, a religious leader that, over time, gained more and more followers (Bellamy). Eventually he ousted the Afghanistan government and gained control of the country (Bellamy). The Taliban only ruled for five years, but what they did has left a scarring mark on the country of Afghanistan.
Nutrition and breastfeeding are subjects that can relate greatly to each other. New mothers are in a need of information regarding breastfeeding. Mothers receive the information and instructions on how to breastfeed at the hospital where they bear their children. That information is essential in the decision making process of whether to breastfeed or not. Still the clear choice for mothers everywhere is breastfeeding for several important life affecting reasons. Breast milk is highly nutritional, protects from various diseases, ideal in growth, promotes bonding, and is beneficial for the mother in a recovery process after labor.
Afghanistan is a country in war and a country in devastation. Afghanistan has one of the world’s highest infant mortality rates and the world’s highest birth rates. Because of the high infant mortality rates, they also have many problems in health, sanitation, and a lack of food they have. Because of poor health and sanitation in the country of Afghanistan, the Afghanis have many sicknesses and diseases. Sickness causes high infant mortality rates. The diseases that cause high death rates are bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, and rabies (Demographics 2013). Because the mothers do not have enough nutrition when giving birth to the infants, many of the mothers die in childbirth. And because of the two decades of war, the war also left many people especially children homeless. As a result, there are children on the streets of Afghanistan without a families and shelter. What should the United Nations do to help Afghanistan? To help Afghanistan, the United Nations should assist Afghanistan with food and health problems to help reduce the high morality and birth rates so Afghanistan could start moving towards the third demographic transition.
( Criton, 2014.) Being a labor an delivery nurse(L&D) myself, and modesty being such an important facet within the Jewish Community, it would be safe to say, that cultural competence in Jewish birthing rituals would be a must when laboring a patient of this belief. My goal as a labor nurse, is to skillfully, attentively, and appropriately monitor, observe, and respect my patient and their unborn fetus at all times while under my care. Since the Jewish culture diligently tries to maintain complete modesty as a nurse, I would offer my Jewish labor patients a long sleeve gown and surgical hat to cover their head.
Religion in Afghanistan has an immense amount of history behind it and some of that history had just recently occurred. Islam is the number one religion in Afghanistan; in fact, 99% of people in the Afghanistan region are religious and not just any religion Islamic religion, and the other 1% are less practiced religions. Islam has two main types of sub-divisions, the Sunni Muslims and the Shia Muslims. Both practice Islam, but have totally different opinions on how to worship the Islamic god. Opinions so different that one of the sub-division religions are considered a radical practice. Afghanistan is a true religion because the people either follow the rules through and through, or they do not follow at all. Religion in Afghanistan is not only a choice, but it is a lifestyle. For a while in Afghan history, it became a mandatory lifestyle.
Overall, the government of Pakistan has failed to address the health needs of the vast majority of the population especially in rural areas due to inadequate health policies and programs. However, women are the worst suffer of poor and limited health facilities in Pakistan and face high risk due to social and cultural factors that their mobility and their access to basic and reproductive health care which is mostly available at distant locations and inattention to their needs during pregnancy.
In recent years, Afghanistan, a developing country located in South Asia, has been the country with the highest infant mortality rate, estimated at approximately 110 deaths per 1,000 live births. In addition, Afghanistan has the lowest life expectancy in the world at fifty years of age and an alarming high rate of maternal mortality. As a developing country overwhelmed by war, Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places to be an expecting mother. Although the death rates of infants have declined, there is still worry that it will only increase again once the
Breastfeeding rates are continually increasing. The nutritional benefit of breast over formula is a long established fact. “According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding rates improved nationwide in 2000-2008, and some of the greatest improvement was among black women. However, only about 59 percent of black mothers breastfed in 2008, compared to 80 percent of Hispanic mothers and about 75 percent of white mothers. For 2008 rates of breastfeeding at a baby’s first birthday, the number was about 23 percent overall but only 12.5 percent for black mothers. That low rate still marks a near doubling of rates among black mothers compared to the year 2000” (Currie, 2013).It is the recommended method of feeding an infant for at least the first six months of life. Breastfeeding has benefits to both mothers and their babies. The baby receives immunity to protect it from disease. Financially, breastfeeding can significantly reduce the burden of having a new child. Many mothers initiate breastfeeding in the hospital; however, the number of women who breastfeed until six months is very low (Guyer, Millward, & Berger, 2012). Breastfeeding is highly favored over bottle feeding. Yet, mothers still do not choose to continually breastfeed their infants. Do mothers who breastfeed during hospitalization have limitations or no desire to continue versus mothers who breastfeed for the recommended six months or longer at home?
Chances are that terms such as “midwife” and “home birth” conjure up for you old-fashioned images of childbirth. These words may bring to mind scenes from old movies, but you’re not likely to associate them with the modern image of childbirth. Do you know anyone who has had a midwife-assisted birth or a home birth? Would you consider one?
Finding a practitioner to care for you during your pregnancy and the birth of your child is a very important task. Most people go to their family doctor. Unless your pregnancy is high risk that may not be necessary. Midwives offer care that is “lower-tech, less invasive, and less inclined toward intervention without a clear medical need.” says Jamie Cruz, author of “Call the Midwife”. Many women are uneducated on the benefits to selecting care from a midwife. Many times when expecting mothers discuss their options with their family doctor, the discussion of midwives is often avoided or the doctor will discourage the expecting mother from choosing a midwife. Midwives and doctors should work as a team and embrace each other, however due to
Within the phenomenon of women’s interactions during pregnancy, various factors will influence their perception of modes of delivery. Currently these influences are not well understood among the nulliparous women. Grounded theory provides a framework where factors can be studied in terms of how the woman appropriates meanings. The emerging theory can then be used to inform health care providers practice when caring for pregnant women with the intention to provide women the opportunity to make an informed choice on their mode of
With the arrival of a newborn, parents are immediately faced with myriad of decisions. Should they use cloth or store-bought diapers, co-sleeping or a crib, and what parent gets what shift during the night are just a few. However, one of the most important and more personal choices is between a formula based diet or breastfeeding for their baby to receive his or her required nourishment. It has been proven time and time again that the benefits of breast milk over formula are numerous: they include health, emotional, mental, and financial benefits with the convenience of non-preparation. Breastfeeding is not only the most natural way to provide nutrition for a baby it’s also the most complete way. These benefits do not only benefit the baby, but they benefit the mother as well.
As a young wife and mother, Ashima Ganguli experiences labor and delivery just like many other American women, in a hospital. Motherhood is offered as a transnational identity, representing the traditional gender roles sometimes considered subordinate. Ashima quietly observes the habits of the American women that surround her. She overhears husbands telling their wives they love them. This is something a Bengali husband or wife would never say. While maintaining many traditional Bengali beliefs and practices, giving birth in a hospital is more typical of an American woman. Traditionally, Indian women are known to give birth in the home where they grew up, returning to their childhood, without the presence of their husbands or inlaws.