Practices, cares and rituals in the birth environment. Customs of the Fang ethnic group of Equatorial Guinea
Section: Cover story
How to quote
Francisco C et al. Prácticas, cuidados y rituales en torno al parto. Costumbres en la etnia fang de Guinea Ecuatorial. Metas de Enfermería dic 2001/ene 2002; 4(10): 21-28
Authors
1Cristina Francisco del Rey, 2Anita Miaga, 3Petronila Eyenga
Position
1Profesora Titular. Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Alcalá. Madrid. España. 2Enfermera y matrona. Profesora de los Estudios de Enfermería. Escuela de Sanidad y Medio Ambiente. Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial.3Matrona. Hospital Regional de Bata. Dr. Epitie. Guinea Ecuatorial. Profesora de los Estudios de Enfermería. Escuela de Sanidad y Medio Ambiente. Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial.
Abstract
In this article, a series of practices related to pregnancy and birth are presented which are of great significance for the Fang ethnic group of Equatorial Guinea.
Knowledge of the customs that surround the practices of personal care in different groups is of great importance to nurses for two reasons: a) for their interest in their own right, some for the curiosity they arouse and others for their empirical foundation and b) because knowledge of such diversity allows values to be developed that contribute to a respect for the customs of the different groups that come under the care of nurses.
This work starts with a description of the Fang ethnic group and of some of the most relevant aspects of Equatorial Guinea in order to provide the social-health framework within which the description of the facts takes place. Then, the care practices are presented that are carried out in the different phases of pregnancy and puerperal period and finally, some of the customs that surround pregnancy and childbirth are presented.
Keywords:
Equatorial Guinea; Fang ethnie; maternal care; personal carenursing care
Versión en Español
Título:
Prácticas, cuidados y rituales en torno al parto. Costumbres en la etnia fang de Guinea Ecuatorial