African indigenous beliefs and practices during pregnancy, birth and after birth

Excerpt

Midwifery care has existed since time immemorial. Among indigenous Africans, giving birth was a normal process where females used to deliver at home under the care of birth mothers. However, this communal practice was displaced during colonisation and was replaced by midwifery that was conducted in hospitals under controlled environments and bureaucracy of the health care systems.

Indigenous midwifery care (mahlayiselo ya vasungukati) believes that the birthing process extends from before and during pregnancy to during and after the delivery. Successful outcomes of pregnancies depend on compliance with the practices and beliefs associated with the birthing process. To date, pregnant females still engage in indigenous practices and beliefs during pregnancy, labour and post-delivery. However, these practices sometimes clash with modern practices of midwifery.

This chapter reviews the African indigenous beliefs and practices during pregnancy, labour and post-delivery. These include practices such as indigenous measurement and monitoring of pregnancy till the expected day of delivery, delay of early labour and treatment of minor disorders of pregnancy. Religious beliefs during the prenatal period, labour and post-delivery, maternal nutrition and taboos to be avoided are discussed. Each section includes the implications for the health care practitioners.

Understanding the indigenous antenatal practices by health care practitioners will improve and contextualise cultural care towards pregnant females in clinics and hospitals; it will also assist in the return of indigenous practices.