Childbearing is universally treated as a life crisis event. Jordan (1980:2) wrote:

In most societies birth and the immediate postpartum period are considered a time of vulnerability for mother and child; indeed, frequently a time of ritual danger for the entire family.

Most societies, therefore, tend to have certain sets of beliefs and practices for coping with this life crisis and for dealing with the danger and the uncertainty associated with childbirth. The beliefs and practices of each society have common goals, namely, the maintenance of well-being and preservation of life of a new mother and her newborn (Muecke, 1976). Jordan (1980:2) has also pointed out that:

it is not surprising, therefore, that whatever the details of a given birthing system - its practitioners will tend to see it as the best way, the right way, indeed the way to bring a child into the world.

In this chapter the experiences of several Hmong and Vietnamese women are given for analysing cultural interpretations of childbirth in Hmong and Vietnamese societies. The chapter presents several important issues surrounding childbirth which were raised by the women in the study. Some of these issues are of great concern for many women.

A knowledge of existing patterns of childbirth beliefs and practices amongst Hmong women need to be a prime concern in establishing maternal health programs in Australia. This knowledge can potentially improve our understanding of women's acceptance or rejection of certain practices and health resources. When misunderstanding and mismanagement are eliminated, there will be better health care delivery for consumers from different cultural backgrounds. This is particularly important among the Hmong since the majority of Hmong women are of childbearing age. Because the Hmong put a high value on having many children they will be major users of mainstream health services. This means health care providers will have more contacts with them.

Click here to get full article