Childbearing Beliefs and Practices of the Aeta Mag-Anchi community at Brgy. Inararo, Porac, Pampanga

Abstract

Indigenous Women are the key-carers of children in their communities that is why the health of indigenous mothers is vital for the survival of indigenous populations (State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, 2013). Beliefs and practices regarding childbearing of the Aeta Community still has traditional influences since they greatly value their own culture. Due to this, it is therefore vital to understand indigenous people’s worldviews, beliefs and practices and examine the safety and clinical appropriateness of their traditions and practices in order to develop a culturally sensitive program that is accessible for them. The study documents the childbearing beliefs and practices of the Aeta Mag-anchis of Brgy. Inararo, Porac Pampanga which involves the process of pregnancy and childbirth. The study utilizes the descriptive qualitative design and the analysis of the results is through identifying the common themes that emerged from the study. Great care was taken in order to protect and preserve the rights of the participants by following the Administrative Order No.1: The Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs) and Customary Laws (CLs) Research and Documentation Guidelines of 2012. 31 individuals were intervewed; 6 local government officials and health care providers, 21 Aeta mothers and 6 Aeta fathers. From the two domains namely; Pregnancy and Childbirth, general themes emerged which are Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices and Challenges. The study showed that due to the relocation near lowland areas after the eruption of Mt Pinatubo and the recently implemented ‘No Home Birthing’ Policy, the study shows that new mothers have recently shifted or adapted to facility-based births and practices. Also, the experiences, beliefs and practices of the Aeta Mag-anchis affirm the need to recognize their rights to their indigenous practices and develop more appropriate and inclusive health care programs and policies which not only accommodates the Indigenous Knowledge, Skills and Practices (IKSP) and Customary Laws (CLs), as per the promotion, protection and recognition of the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities but also puts into consideration the structural factors, such as distance to the health center or financial constraints experienced by the Aeta community. Government and health care providers should prioritize how to provide sensitive and culturally appropriate maternity care at all times to ensure the satisfaction, safety and welfare of Aeta mothers.