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Objective: Birth practices, the role of pregnant women, and the resulting health of both the women and their infants varies depending on cultural, spiritual and social differences around the world. This ethnography will seek to explain the cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices that impact pregnant women and their baby's health in rural Zambia. Design: This study will employ exploratory ethnographic research, which is focused on discovery and has as its product a hypothesis. This type of exploration is primarily characterized by participant observation. The investigator will observe and interview pregnant women who agree to take part in the study. On each weekly visit, the investigator will engage not only in interviewing but also in participant observation: active involvement as appropriate in household activities, childcare, meal preparation and chores. The investigator will also employ the use of physical assessment to gather data regarding health of the mother and baby, using the elements of the psychological, sociocultural, developmental and spiritual assessments as derived from the Neuman Systems Model. Population, Sample, Setting: The sample size will depend on the number of women who are pregnant during this time, and the number of these who are willing to participate. A goal of between 10 and 15 women is expected, wtih three months allotted for the study. The setting is rural Zambia, where the investigator will be living during the duration of the study. Concept or Variables Studied Together: The two theoretical frameworks utilized are Betty Neumans Systems Model and Madeline Leininger's Theory of Culture Care and Diversity. Findings, conclusions, and implications are yet to be found as this study will take place May-August 2003.
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