Knowledge of Prenatal and Postpartum Care of Women by Southern Border Wisdom in Narathiwat Province

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to study knowledge of prenatal care and postpartum care of women by southern border wisdom in Narathiwat province. Key informants were 1 traditional midwife group and 4 service recipients from traditional midwives’ groups selected by purposive sampling, using surveys and a structured interview from November 2021 to March 2022. Data were analyzed by content analysis method. The result findings showed that those who took prenatal care and postpartum care of women were female. There are 3 processes of prenatal care: 1) pre-caring processes, including paying teachers, history taking, abdominal examination, and diagnosis, 2) baby posture massage, and 3) The process after care is not lifting heavy objects. After receiving the service, the ones could walk actively, infrequent urination was improved, and in postpartum women, there were 1) pre-caring processes, including paying teachers, history taking, abdominal examination, and diagnosis, 2) caring process, body massage, herbal compress, hot stone compress, lactation stimulation massage, and drinking warm herbal water, 3) post-care process, including giving advice causing the service recipients to have less aches, and better milk flows. From the study, the knowledge of traditional midwives should be brought to public health agencies to consider safety and appropriateness, including correcting and improving until becoming a guideline for further practice.