Burmese Women Research Articles

Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: Techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border

Forced migrants face particular reproductive health problems. Migrant Burmese women in Thailand often need to work to support themselves and their families, and mistimed and unwanted pregnancies are a common problem. They have limited access to culturally appropriate reproductive health services and no access to safe elective abortion. They are at risk of deportation or at least harassment by Thai authorities if they travel. They use traditional methods such as herbal medicines, and employ lay midwives to provide pummelling and stick abortions to end their pregnancies. This ethnographic study used various methods to collect data over 10 months in Tak Province, Thailand. The authors describe the women's motives and means of ending their pregnancies and some of the difficulties in obtaining reliable modern methods of contraception. This study highlights the need for reproductive health care for displaced populations.

Borders of Fertility: Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in Burmese Women Migrating to Thailand

Burmese women are forced to migrate to find work and security in Thailand due to the social, political, and economic disarray present in Burma. Unplanned pregnancies are common in this area, and one third of pregnancy loss is self-induced. Poverty, lack of employment rights, and domestic violence are important factors in deciding to terminate the pregnancy. Women face multiple barriers in managing their fertility and use traditional techniques often with the help of lay midwives. The research methods include a retrospective review of medical records held in Thai and Burmese-led health facilities, as well as semistructured interviews and group discussions with Burmese women experiencing a pregnancy loss, Burmese traditional and modern health workers, and their husbands and community members.

Journey of Kamjing

In February 2004, the Bangkok Newspaper covered a story on Burmese women, including many pregnant women: Burmese women chose to commit petty crimes such as pickpocketing, shoplifting and drugpeddli...

Human Rights Abuses and Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS: The Experiences of Burmese Women in Thailand

We investigated human rights concerns related to migration, living and working conditions, and access to HIV/AIDS services and reproductive health services for Burmese women in Thailand. Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS for Burmese women stemmed from abuses they experienced: gender and ethnic discrimination, including violence; unsafe migration and trafficking; labor and sexual exploitation; and denial of health care. Despite having bound itself to human rights laws, the Thai government is failing to fulfill its obligations to Burmese women, with particularly devastating impacts for their well-being, including the risk of HIV/AIDS. Moreover, as our documentation shows, this failure to incorporate human rights concerns into its national response to the epidemic virtually guarantees that HIV/AIDS will continue to be a problem in Thailand.

Reproductive Health for Migrant Burmese Women in Ranong Fishing Community

Supang Chantavanich and Shakti Paul look at some of the issues around reproductive health for migrant women in Thailand.

Stories of Gender and Ethnicity: Discourses of colonialism and resistance in Burma1

This paper charts the discursive shift between colonial and ‘post’ colonial discourses about gender and ethnicity in Burma, and attempts to counter such representations by offering alternative stories to those colonialist rumours which have established their status as ‘truth’. The first part deals with missionary discourses in colonial Burma; the second with ‘post’ colonial discourses on Burmese women; and the final section offers stories told by women involved in the political struggles of contemporary Burma. The aim of the paper is to attempt to de‐territorialize Burma as a site of colonialist knowledge.

Energy Expenditure, Duration of Activities, and Physical Work Capacities of Burmese Women Weavers

This study assesses the daily energy expenditure of Burmese women weavers and concludes that, although the total energy cost of their work is considerable because of the many hours involved, it is nor sufficiently intense either for substantial muscular development or for cardiovascular fitness. The weavers would not be able to tolerate work demanding high energy expenditure.

Shamans, Housewives, and Other Restless Spirits: Women in Korean Ritual Life. Laurel KendallKorean Women: View from the Inner Room. Laurel Kendall , Mark PetersonIn Search of Answers: Indian Women's Voices from "Manushi.". Madhu Kishwar , Ruth VanitaThe World of Burmese Women. Mi Mi KhiangJapanese Women: Constraint and Fulfillment. Takie Lebra

<i>Shamans, Housewives, and Other Restless Spirits: Women in Korean Ritual Life</i>. Laurel Kendall<i>Korean Women: View from the Inner Room</i>. Laurel Kendall , Mark Peterson<i>In Search of Answers: Indian Women's Voices from "Manushi."</i>. Madhu Kishwar , Ruth Vanita<i>The World of Burmese Women</i>. Mi Mi Khiang<i>Japanese Women: Constraint and Fulfillment</i>. Takie Lebra

The Role of Women in Rural Burma: A Case Study

Out of Burma's population of 3'64 million in 1984-85, women comprised almost half, that is, 1.8 million. Almost the same ratio applies to the economically active population (Appendix 1; Mi Mi Khaing 1984). Obviously, the above statistics show the significance of women in Burma. Women have enjoyed relatively equal status in politics and administration, as well as in the legal, economic and culture fields throughout Burma's history. In spite of their significant role, it is unfortunate that there are no systematic studies about Burmese women and their role in socio-economic life. The main purpose of this study is to try to provide some insights into this neglected area of study. The village of Thanat Pyin in Hlegu township, in Rangoon Division, was chosen as the site of study. The village is only 13 miles from Hlegu and is accessible by bus or by car directly from Rangoon or from Hlegu (Appendix 3). The principal crop grown in Thanat Pyin is paddy. Researchers collected data on occupational patterns, daily time use, and participation in decision making. Observation, interview and questionnaire methods were applied. The village was visited twice: first in April 1980 (that is, in the agricultural off-season) and then in August 1981 (during the agricultural season). A one-day survey was carried out on each visit. Applying the Random Sampling Method, 50 households (30 per cent of the total 169 households) were selected and all the female members of the selected households, in the 12 to 65 age group were interviewed using prepared questionnaires1. Ninetyfive women were

The effects of oral iron supplementation on ferritin levels in pregnant Burmese women

The usefulness of serum ferritin levels in assessing iron stores in pregnant women before and after supplementation with iron was studied. One hundred thirty-five healthy pregnant women between 22 to 28 wk were randomly allotted to daily dose regimes of 60, 120, or 240 mg of ferrous sulphate. The tablets were given after meals under strict personal supervision. Before supplementation, iron deficiency (ferritin level less than 10 micrograms/L) was present in 54.8% of the pregnant women, compared to an incidence of 17.8% when assessed by serum iron concentration of less than 50 micrograms/dl. The mean ferritin level of pregnant women was 14.15 micrograms/L and was less than one-half that of healthy single women and one-sixth of that of healthy males. Supplementation with oral iron for 12 wk produced an increase in ferritin levels in all the groups, but significant increases were seen only in women given 120 and 240 mg of ferrous sulphate with or without folic acid. However, there were no differences in final Hb levels among the supplemented groups.

Habitual physical activity of rural Burmese women : Htay, H., Po, L., and Mya-Tu, M.Ergonomics, Apr 1978, 21.4, 239–252

Habitual physical activity of rural Burmese women : Htay, H., Po, L., and Mya-Tu, M.Ergonomics, Apr 1978, 21.4, 239–252

Habitual Physical Activity of Rural Burmese Women

Abstract Habitual physical activity of 16 Burmese women aged 19-24 yrs residing in a rural Burmese village was assessed by the questionnaire method together with the diary method and heart rate measurements. The pattern of their habitual physical activity had a seasonal variation. Their heart rate during transplanting paddy, pounding glutinous paddy and carrying water ranged from 108-132, 119-144 and 120-168 beats min−1 respectively. Their work intensity expressed as a percentage of their maximal aerobic power varied from 1304 to 79-47. It was found that the habitual physical activity of these rural women could contribute a positive effect towards their physical performance capacity.