Immigrant Southeast and East Asian mothers’ transnational postpartum cultural practices: A meta-ethnography

Abstract

Objective: Southeast and East Asian mothers experience the postpartum period differently than that of the general population. Despite the documented difference, there is limited representation of postpartum cultural practices in nursing and midwifery research. The purpose of this meta-ethnography is to synthesize qualitative findings from studies that examined postpartum cultural practices of Southeast and East Asian mothers globally to ensure better maternal health outcomes. Methods: Noblit and Hare’s seven-step meta-ethnographic approach was used. We analyzed constructs, concepts, themes, and metaphors using Krippendorff’s content analysis. The guidelines for preferred reporting the synthesis of qualitative research were adhered to enhancing transparency (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Results: The collaborative search process in the following databases, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus, resulted in eight high quality research studies published between January 2017 and February 2020. Five studies discussed postpartum traditions of immigrant mothers ( n = 67) living in North America ( n = 67), while three studies explored that of mothers living in Southeast and East Asian. Mothers ( n = 132) from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and Hmong participated. Findings: Three themes emerged: (1) importance of maintaining postpartum cultural practices; (2) barriers of “doing-the-month”; and (3) modification: practicality over tradition. Although participants recognized value in postpartum traditions, the lack of social support deterred more immigrant than non-immigrant Southeast and East Asian mothers from “doing-the-month.” Due to the influence of western medicine, clinicians’ postpartum care suggestions, and use of modern technology (e.g., Internet), Southeast and East Asian mothers had informed choices to adapt, modify, or “break with tradition.” Conclusion: Similarities and differences existed in how each Southeast and East Asian mother accepted and engaged with postpartum cultural practices, a process which aligned with one’s definition of health. Maternity care providers should further elicit Southeast and East Asian mothers’ needs based on individualized assessments beginning in prenatal care with emphasis on social support for mothers who have recently immigrated and given birth in their adopted countries.

Appraising Rufaidah Al-Aslamia, First Muslim Nurse and Pioneer of Islamic Nursing: Contributions and Legacy

“…The five emergent themes in reconstructing the historical narrative on Rufaidah Al-Aslamia include efficient organizer, clinical practice teacher, effective communication, community care, and spiritual care. These emergent themes are considered as retrograde and transverse in relationship to the theme topics of nurse-focused, patient-focused, and system-focused that will be exemplified in the discussion (Callaghan, 2017;Longman, 2018;Vo & Desai, 2021). The discussion therefore is an integrated evidential, evocative, interpretive, reflexive, and historical narrative that is a comprehensive historical account of Rufaidah Al-Aslamia that combines results and findings to prevent fragmentation of the narrative (Brown, 2018;Celikoglu et al, 2017;Kassan et al, 2018;Mason, 2018).…”

“…The discussion of the five emergent themes that follow includes efficient organizer, clinical practice teacher, effective communication, community care, and spiritual care with accompanying descriptions and explanations from the data yield from the literature combined with interpretative and contextual perspectives. Each of the five emergent themes is discussed in relation to the theme topics of nurse-, patient-, and/or system-focused according to the focus of the empirical data, that is retrograde and transverse in nature when reconstructing the historical narrative (Callaghan, 2017;Longman, 2018;Vo & Desai, 2021).…”

Risk factors associated with 31-day unplanned hospital readmission in newborns: a systematic review

“…It is noted that almost 90% of the included studies ( n = 25) in this review were conducted in western developed countries such as the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and France with extensive multicultural backgrounds. Mothers of Asian ethnicity experience language and cultural barriers during hospitalization impacting their health literacy and comprehension of discharge information on caring for newborns and themselves [ 47 ]. Additionally, where there is inadequate family support for migrants there is often limited uptake of community support services following hospital discharge [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Experiences of Peripartum Depression among Middle-class Chinese Mothers in Urban China and the Netherlands

“…From conception onwards, women are expected to bear full responsibilities for the health and development of their offspring, and they are often pressured to conform to health guidelines in order to ensure delivering "perfectly" healthy babies . Chinese migrant mothers living overseas often integrate their knowledge and values concerning modern motherhood within their strong transnational connections to contemporary China (Zhu, 2020;Vo & Desai, 2021). More recent studies have shed light on the connection between increased maternal stress due to the intensive mothering ideology and its adverse effects on maternal efficacy, self-confidence and women' s well-being, including elevated levels of anxiety, fear, and guilt .…”