Postpartum health and cultural care of the Truku women in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Huang, Hsiao-Ching, 黃筱晶
• Other Authors: Subeq, Yi-Maun
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/3cd3hn

博士 === 慈濟大學 === 醫學科學研究所 === 107 === Health care should be provided to people equally, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or sociocultural factors. However, this principle does not always apply, particularly when it comes to genders in some cultures. Until now, there have been no studies conducted on the health-related issues of the Truku women, based on a multicultural perspective. This present study explored Truku women’s beliefs, their current health situation, and their needs in terms of postpartum health care. The culture care theory, the sunrise model (Leininger, 2006), and traditional indigenous knowledge system were used as the conceptual framework. Data were collected through qualitative interviews, participation observations, related documents, and field notes. Over the past 5 years, health care related data of the Truku women were collected, analyzed, and interpreted based on the interpretative analysis. The study investigated and concluded the following portions: (1) The traditional knowledge system of Gaya represents the cultural values of the Truku people. The taboo of postpartum health care is passed down from older Truku people. (2) The mainstream knowledge of postpartum health care among the Truku people is gradually influenced by the Han people and health education of Western medicine. (3) Using a type of reconstructed knowledge system, Truku women have developed a “functional” coping strategy based on comfort and convenience, with economy and resources being the primary factors that influenced the Truku women’s choice of postpartum health care. Ultimately, we wish to enhance the sensitivity of health care professionals to the multiculturalism of indigenous women and thus draw public attention to the appropriateness of gender and patient-caregiver interactions for indigenous peoples. Establishing a health care environment in which gender and cultural differences are respected is recommended to implement equal care for different genders and groups so as to improve the integration of women’s health and patient–caregiver interactions.