Back to Search
Start Over
Traditions and plant use during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery by the Kry ethnic group in Lao PDR
- Source :
- Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol 7, Iss 1, p 14 (2011), Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
- Publication Year :
- 2011
- Publisher :
- BMC, 2011.
-
Abstract
- Background Activities and diet during the postpartum period are culturally dictated in many Southeast Asian cultures, and a period of confinement is observed. Plants play an important role in recovery during the postpartum period in diet and traditional medicine. Little is known of the Kry, a small ethnic group whose language was recently described, concerning its traditions and use of plants during pregnancy, parturition, postpartum recovery and infant healthcare. This research aims to study those traditions and identify medicinal plant use. Methods Data were collected in the 3 different Kry villages in Khammouane province, Lao PDR, through group and individual interviews with women by female interviewers. Results A total of 49 different plant species are used in women's healthcare. Plant use is culturally different from the neighboring Brou and Saek ethnic groups. Menstruation, delivery and postpartum recovery take place in separate, purpose-built, huts and a complex system of spatial restrictions is observed. Conclusions Traditions surrounding childbirth are diverse and have been strictly observed, but are undergoing a shift towards those from neighboring ethnic groups, the Brou and Saek. Medicinal plant use to facilitate childbirth, alleviate menstruation problems, assist recovery after miscarriage, mitigate postpartum haemorrhage, aid postpartum recovery, and for use in infant care, is more common than previously reported (49 species instead of 14). The wealth of novel insights into plant use and preparation will help to understand culturally important practices such as traditional delivery, spatial taboos, confinement and dietary restrictions, and their potential in modern healthcare.
- Subjects :
- Male
Postnatal Care
Cultural Studies
Health (social science)
Population
Culture
Ethnic group
Ethnobotany
Hemorrhage
Abortion
Southeast asian
Health(social science)
Interviews as Topic
Pregnancy
lcsh:Botany
medicine
Ethnicity
Childbirth
Humans
education
Postpartum Recovery
education.field_of_study
Plants, Medicinal
Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
business.industry
Research
Postpartum Period
Parturition
Infant
lcsh:Other systems of medicine
medicine.disease
lcsh:RZ201-999
Menstruation
Obstetric Labor Complications
lcsh:QK1-989
Abortion, Spontaneous
Complementary and alternative medicine
Laos
Infant Care
Women's Health
Female
Medicine, Traditional
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
business
Postpartum period
Demography
Phytotherapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17464269
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....1fb108ca8e31a26feb6cc5145cfb2074