Changes in pregnancy and childbirth practices in remote areas in Lao PDR within two generations of women:

Helle M Alvesson1, Magnus Lindelow, Bouasavanh Khanthaphat

  • 1PhD student, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Global Health, Stockholm, Sweden.

Reproductive Health Matters
|December 10, 2013
PubMed

This paper sheds light on the inter-generational changes in pregnancy and childbirth practices in remote areas of Lao PDR over a period of 30 years. The study consisted of focus group discussions with pregnant women aged 14-30, mothers and fathers of small children, and older women aged 40+ in six rural communities in two districts. Childbirth practices were gradually evolving and changing - most dramatically illustrated by the transition from forest-based to home-based delivery, and a few health facility-based deliveries when complications occurred. Today's generation of women aged 40+ did not recommend all the practices of their mothers, but saw the need to adapt due to the social and medical risks they had experienced, especially high rates of neonatal death. Their daughters are doing the same. The increase in home-based deliveries should be regarded as significant progress in this setting in rural Laos. Understanding how young women interpret their options and incorporating that knowledge and the experience of successful local outreach programmes into health system policy and practice for maternity care, e.g. by strengthening the skills of community-based health workers, could contribute to improving maternal and neonatal survival and reducing health inequalities.

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
65
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
61
Primary Healthcare Services01:30

Primary Healthcare Services

Primary care promotes wellness and prevents disease. This care includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations. Settings providing this type of healthcare include physician offices, public health clinics, school nursing, and community health nursing.
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
3.1K
Current Trends in Nursing II01:30

Current Trends in Nursing II

Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
2.0K
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System01:26

Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System

At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
3.9K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
1.0K