Western Journal of Nursing Research
Volume 18, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 299-313

Pregnancy and Delivery Practices and Beliefs of Ethiopian Immigrant Women in Israel (Article)

Granot M.* , Spitzer A. , Aroian K.J. , Ravid C. , Tamir B. , Noam R.
  • a Cheryl Spencer School of Nursing, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
  • b Cheryl Spencer School of Nursing, Rambam Medical Center, Department of Nursing, University of Haifa, Technion, Haifa, Israel
  • c Boston College, School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
  • d Cheryl Spencer School of Nursing, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
  • e Cheryl Spencer School of Nursing, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
  • f Cheryl Spencer School of Nursing, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

Abstract

This exploratory, qualitative study compared traditional and biomedical pregnancy and delivery practices from the perspective of Ethiopian immigrant women in Israel. Findings documented that certain beliefs, such as the belief that nonmedical factors (i.e., moral behavior, God, and proper nutrition) were responsible for pregnancy outcomes, were relatively unaffected by immigration. After immigration to Israel, Ethiopian women, however, chose to deliver their babies in the hospital rather than import traditional home delivery practices from their homeland. Despite many negative aspects of labor and delivery in Israel, Ethiopian immigrant women felt that it was worth enduring negative Israeli health care practices in order to have "clean," "safe," and expert deliveries. Findings from this study assist health care professionals to provide more culturally sensitive care to this immigrant group.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology Reproduction Africa south of the Sahara Israel population Migrants nursing methodology research developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries human pregnancy outcomes middle aged Asia Beliefs Western Asia Developed Countries Mediterranean Countries ethnology Immigrants--women Humans female Behavior Africa pregnancy Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article delivery Ethiopia pregnancy outcome adult migration Eastern Africa developed country Demographic Factors Emigration and Immigration Delivery, Obstetric attitude to health Culture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0030171841&doi=10.1177%2f019394599601800306&partnerID=40&md5=a0fed551c627539232149dc25ae35616
DOI: 10.1177/019394599601800306
ISSN: 01939459
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English