Doing the Month: Traditional Asian Postpartum Practices at a Federally Qualified Health Center [31A

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: “Doing the month” (DTM) is a traditional Asian month-long postpartum practice. Although there are varying levels of adherence, in its strictest form, women are not allowed to shower, leave the house, or brush their teeth. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was developed in consultation with a psychometrician to determine the estimated prevalence of women who have participated in DTM. Female patients in a federally qualified health center's waiting room were surveyed in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English. This study was approved by the UC Berkeley Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four respondents participated; mean age was 40.1. Without prompting, 37.7% responded that they had heard of DTM. After an explanatory paragraph, 76.6% participants reported they had heard of DTM. Out of patients that have children, 60.7% “did the month” after giving birth. Likert-type scale questions showed that respondents believed DTM was stressful but enjoyable and helpful for recovery from childbirth. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: The majority of immigrant Asian women at this FQHC had heard of and participated in DTM. Asian immigrants are projected to become the largest foreign-born group in the U.S. by 2055. DTM is a common practice that providers should be aware of in order to promote postnatal health of both infant and mother. Drinking rice wine, recommended in DTM practices, could affect developing infants and may need to be addressed in breastfeeding patients. Being unable to shower or leave the house for a month may contribute to postpartum infections or depression. Obstetric residencies should include curriculum regarding this practice.