Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119053

Mellissa H. Withers, MHS, Community Health, UCLA, 11664 National Blvd #277, Los Angeles, CA 90064, 3103979549, mellwit@yahoo.com and Denise Abe, MD, MPH, East Bali Poverty Project, 11664 National Blvd. #277, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

BACKGROUND: Bali, Indonesia has the highest maternal mortality rate (between 350 and 450 per 100,000 live births) in south-east Asia. Although lack of health care among some populations may be a factor, traditional beliefs and practices may also contribute to maternal mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore traditional beliefs and practices regarding pregnancy and childbirth, and to determine whether these contribute to maternal mortality. The health belief model was utilized in the study design. METHODS: The study site was a community of 10,000 in East Bali with 19 sub-villages. Three focus groups and over thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants, including local mothers, government midwives, traditional and formal health care providers and community health volunteers. Content analysis was performed. RESULTS: Numerous traditional beliefs and practices were uncovered that may contribute to maternal mortality, including: practices of local traditional healers, food taboos leading to poor nutrition, inaccurate myths surrounding high risk pregnancies, distrust of formal health care providers, and fear of witchcraft and evil spirits. RECOMMENDATIONS: Programs should address the traditional beliefs that put women at risk and may make them more susceptible to poor birth outcomes. Women who express concerns about witchcraft and distrust of health care providers need to be convinced of the benefits of immunization and pre-natal care. Women could benefit from education programs to recognize the symptoms of problem-pregnancies and proper nutrition. These findings demonstrate the need for culturally-sensitive programs targeting women with little previous experience in the formal health care system.

Learning Objectives:

• ·identify traditional beliefs and understand how they may contribute to maternal mortality in this community
• ·Understand how the health belief model can be applied to programs that target behavior change among women at risk of maternal mortality

Keywords: Pregnancy, Maternal Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.