Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Contraception-
Most Somali families are large, with an average of eight children. Somali families often do not believe in contraception or abortion due to their religious belief of "children being a gift from god." The use of modern contraception is extremely low in Somalia (1%). Children are highly valued in the Somali culture and a woman's status is enhanced by the number of children she has. The role of the father in the Somali culture is that of a decision maker and wage earner, leaving child rearing to the mother and women in the family. Lactation often acts as a natural way to space children through natural elimination of ovulation. Woman will often breastfeed their children for two years after birth, allowing a natural spacing of two to three years between children.
Pregnancy-
Woman often marry early at 15 or 16, and pregnancy occurs shortly thereafter. Woman are supported by their own mothers and other woman in their family. Pregnancy is celebrated and the community will often hold a traditional celebration for the woman before birth.
Prenatal Care-
Prenatal care is provided by traditional caregivers in the community. Woman often suffer from malnutrition and other nutritional deficiencies before and during pregnancy. Most Somali woman have the preconception that prenatal care is not needed if everything is going fine with the pregnancy and they feel well. The maternal mortality rate is 1,600 per 100,000 live births (UNICEF, 1998) which contrasts to a maternal mortality rate of 12 per 100,000 in the United States.
Childbirth-
During childbirth the woman is supported by a traditional birth attendant and female family members. Birth most often occurs at home. Traditional healing methods are often used to help alleviate anxiety and pain. Traditionally the baby’s father is not present during the birth .Pregnancy in the Somali culture is affected by the high rate of female circumcision; up to 98% of all woman are circumcised in the Somali culture. To allow for childbirth the area circumcised needs to be cut to allow the passage of the infant.
Postpartum care-
During this time the woman is expected to rest and her primary responsibility is breastfeeding the newborn. Traditionally, family and community members take care of the other children, the house, and meal preparation. The mother is given special foods to help her recuperate. When the newborn is awake but not breastfeeding, other women take care of the baby so the mother can rest. Diapering is not common in the rural or poorer part of Somalia. When the baby is awake, the mother will hold a small basin in her lap and then hold her baby in a sitting position over the basin at regular time intervals. After the birth the mother and baby stay indoors for 40 days known as afatabah. At the end of 40 days, there is a celebration at the home of a friend or a relative.
Sex Education-
Somali children often learn sexual education through their parents, they believe that this education should not be provided in school. They often learn of sexual practices at an early age as they marry at the age of 15 or 16.
References
Shelp, A. (2004). Women helping women: The Somali doula initiative. International Journal of Childbirth Education , 19(4), 4-7.
UNICEF (2008) “UNICEF at work in Somalia”. UNICEF. Retrieved April 15th 2013, from www.unicef.com
Most Somali families are large, with an average of eight children. Somali families often do not believe in contraception or abortion due to their religious belief of "children being a gift from god." The use of modern contraception is extremely low in Somalia (1%). Children are highly valued in the Somali culture and a woman's status is enhanced by the number of children she has. The role of the father in the Somali culture is that of a decision maker and wage earner, leaving child rearing to the mother and women in the family. Lactation often acts as a natural way to space children through natural elimination of ovulation. Woman will often breastfeed their children for two years after birth, allowing a natural spacing of two to three years between children.
Pregnancy-
Woman often marry early at 15 or 16, and pregnancy occurs shortly thereafter. Woman are supported by their own mothers and other woman in their family. Pregnancy is celebrated and the community will often hold a traditional celebration for the woman before birth.
Prenatal Care-
Prenatal care is provided by traditional caregivers in the community. Woman often suffer from malnutrition and other nutritional deficiencies before and during pregnancy. Most Somali woman have the preconception that prenatal care is not needed if everything is going fine with the pregnancy and they feel well. The maternal mortality rate is 1,600 per 100,000 live births (UNICEF, 1998) which contrasts to a maternal mortality rate of 12 per 100,000 in the United States.
Childbirth-
During childbirth the woman is supported by a traditional birth attendant and female family members. Birth most often occurs at home. Traditional healing methods are often used to help alleviate anxiety and pain. Traditionally the baby’s father is not present during the birth .Pregnancy in the Somali culture is affected by the high rate of female circumcision; up to 98% of all woman are circumcised in the Somali culture. To allow for childbirth the area circumcised needs to be cut to allow the passage of the infant.
Postpartum care-
During this time the woman is expected to rest and her primary responsibility is breastfeeding the newborn. Traditionally, family and community members take care of the other children, the house, and meal preparation. The mother is given special foods to help her recuperate. When the newborn is awake but not breastfeeding, other women take care of the baby so the mother can rest. Diapering is not common in the rural or poorer part of Somalia. When the baby is awake, the mother will hold a small basin in her lap and then hold her baby in a sitting position over the basin at regular time intervals. After the birth the mother and baby stay indoors for 40 days known as afatabah. At the end of 40 days, there is a celebration at the home of a friend or a relative.
Sex Education-
Somali children often learn sexual education through their parents, they believe that this education should not be provided in school. They often learn of sexual practices at an early age as they marry at the age of 15 or 16.
References
Shelp, A. (2004). Women helping women: The Somali doula initiative. International Journal of Childbirth Education , 19(4), 4-7.
UNICEF (2008) “UNICEF at work in Somalia”. UNICEF. Retrieved April 15th 2013, from www.unicef.com