Maternal Health in Timor-Leste: Representations and Practices during Pregnancy, Birth and the Postnatal Period

H B Manuel,N Ramos

doi:10.5195/hcs.2017.231

Abstract

Culture has a strong influence on the representations and health behaviour of individuals and groups. This is reflected in the reproductive health of the Timorese women, intervention in this field being of a priority nature in Timor-Leste in view of its high fertility and maternal mortality rates. The purpose of this ethnographic study is to analyse beliefs, representations and practices associated with pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. It was conducted in Timor-Leste and involved the participation of health professionals, traditional midwives, women and couples, all of them selected through a snowball chain sampling procedure. Data was collected by means of exploratory semi-structured interviews and observation, and its content was duly analysed. The results show the existence of various recommendations, taboos and restrictions which aim at protecting the health of both mother and child, making use of traditional care practices which may vary among ethnolinguistic groups, communities or families.

Highlights

Timor-Leste is located in the Southeast Asia region, occupying the eastern part of the island of Timor
In order to improve the quality of health services some measures were taken, namely the implementation of the National Strategy for Reproductive Health (Ministry of Health Timor-Leste, United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA], and World Health Organization [WHO] 2004) and of the National Policy for Family Planning (Ministry of Health Timor-Leste, 2004), the training of healthcare providers in the field of hygienic and safe childbirth and emergency obstetric care, and the equipment of health facilities
The objective of this paper is to analyse representations and practices associated with pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period of Timorese people belonging to several ethnolinguistic groups

Summary

Introduction

Timor-Leste is located in the Southeast Asia region, occupying the eastern part of the island of Timor. On 20th May 2002, Timor-Leste became an independent country and since the Government, supported by its partners, has been making an effort to improve the living conditions of the population, which is predominantly rural, characterised by widespread poverty and low levels of literacy and health (Ministry of Health Timor-Leste, 2008). The country has a fertility rate of 5.7 children per woman, associated with a rate of contraceptive use of 22.4% and a maternal mortality rate of 557 deaths per 100,000 live births (National Statistics Directorate [NSD], Ministry of Finance Timor-Leste, & ICF Macro, 2010). The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing maternal mortality to 252 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015 is still far from being achieved (Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste & United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], 2009)

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Conclusion