Goyal Deepika
Deepika Goyal is a Professor of Nursing, The Valley Foundation School of Nursing, San Jose State University, One, Washington Square, San Jose, CA. The author can be reached via e-mail at
MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2016 Mar-Apr;41(2):90-7; quiz E7-8. doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000222.
As the population in the United States grows more diverse, nurses caring for childbearing women must be aware of the many cultural traditions and customs unique to their patients. This knowledge and insight supports women and their families with the appropriate care, information, and resources. A supportive relationship builds trust, offers guidance, and allows for the new family to integrate information from nurses and other healthcare providers with the practice of certain perinatal cultural traditions. The Asian Indian culture is rich in tradition, specifically during the perinatal period. To support the cultural beliefs and practices of Asian Indian women during this time, nurses need to be aware of and consider multiple factors. Many women are navigating the new role of motherhood while making sense of and incorporating important cultural rituals. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of perinatal cultural practices and traditions specific to the Asian Indian culture that perinatal nurses may observe in the clinical setting. Cultural traditions and practices specific to the pregnancy and postpartum period are described together with symbolism and implications for nursing practice. It is important to note that information regarding perinatal customs is provided in an effort to promote culturally sensitive nursing care and may not pertain to all Asian Indian women living in the United States.
随着美国人口日益多样化，护理孕产妇的护士必须了解其患者特有的众多文化传统和习俗。这些知识和见解能为妇女及其家庭提供恰当的护理、信息和资源。支持性的关系能建立信任、提供指导，并使新家庭将护士及其他医疗服务提供者提供的信息与某些围产期文化传统的实践相结合。印度文化传统丰富，尤其是在围产期。为在此期间支持印度裔女性的文化信仰和习俗，护士需要了解并考虑多个因素。许多女性在适应母亲这一新角色的同时，还要理解并融入重要的文化仪式。本文旨在概述围产期护士在临床环境中可能观察到的、印度文化特有的围产期文化习俗和传统。文中描述了妊娠和产后特定的文化传统及习俗，以及其象征意义和对护理实践的影响。需要注意的是，提供有关围产期习俗的信息是为了促进具有文化敏感性的护理，可能并不适用于所有生活在美国的印度裔女性。
