本研究的結果，可供臨床護理人員或是欲開發產後保健等相關產業之業者參考。 This study was to examine and compare the postpartum care between traditional and western medicine practices. A one-to-one interview was employed to collect data on personal experiences and professional opinions among practitioners in traditional medicine or western medicine and females with postpartum care experiences or professional knowledge.
Three key points were summarized from qualitative analysis of interview data and the literature. 1. A Comparison of Postpartum Care Between Traditional and Western Medicine Practices
Postpartum care in traditional and western medicine practices can be discussed on three areas of food, living style, and psychiatry. The results suggested that no limitations on food except spicy food were made for postpartum women in western medicine practice. Instead, traditional medicine practice considered food as one of major resources for energy recovering. Overall, traditional medicine practice in postpartum care focused on body nourishment and health care in general. Western medicine practice suggested that prescriptions be recommended when illness was identified. In Taiwan, most of practitioners in traditional or western medicines recommended the traditional nourishing care in the first month of postpartum for postpartum women as suggested in traditional medicine practice. Such a belief that nourishing care in the first month of postpartum would result in good health of postpartum women in the future has been rooted in the public opinion and practiced in the real life as well. 2. Personal Hygiene Issue in Traditional and Western Medicine Practices
Traditional medicine practice suggested that postpartum women cannot touch cold water, take shower, neither wash hairs in the first month of postpartum. On the contrast, western medicine practice recommended good personal hygiene be important for postpartum women to prevent from infection. Whether postpartum women should take shower or/and wash hairs became controversial between traditional and western medicine practices due to different concerns. 3. Prevalence rates of Postpartum Depression in Traditional and Western Medicine Practice
Western medicine practice considers postpartum depression as a result of dysfunctional organs e.g. hormone imbalance and recommends drug and psychiatric therapies. Traditional medicine practice views postpartum depression as an emotional symptom due to anxiety for the future and body change. It is noted that postpartum depression seems less prevalent among those postpartum women with the traditional nourishing care in the first month of postpartum. Traditional postpartum care provides a good reason for postpartum women to relax and receive better family support which can reduce their postpartum pressure and help body recovery.
The study findings can be useful for nursing care clinicians and those relevant industries.
