Description of Taboos Behavior Practice Among Pregnant Women in West Java

Abstract

Purpose: The study was aimed to identify the practice of taboos food and activities among pregnant women of several cities in West Java.The objects this study are pregnant women whose come to prenatal care weekly or monthly at obstetric clinic hospital and private obstetric practice of midwives. The researcher took sample size base on number of questionnaires of 300 participants. Data collection was examined by questionnaires from 30 December 2008 to 30 January 2009. Methods: The questionnaires were pregnancy activities, includng food and taboos activities. The questionnaires measurement used the Likert scale on four point (1-4). The SPSS Win.12.0 (Statistical Package for Social Science 12.0) was used for data analysis. Statistical analysis used frequencies and percentages. Results: The findings showed that 83.7% (n=251) of pregnant women forbid to see moon eclipse. Some pregnant women of 69.3% (n=208) keep away from unpleasant behavior during pregnancy. 37% of participants assume certain activity as a food taboos. Those are "restriction to eat some kind of fruits and vegetable like pineapple, avocado, pomegranate, guava, orange squash, durian, jack fruit, papayas, sugar cane, and eggplant".Conclusion: The traditional background sometimes influences woman behavior during pregnancy. The findings were supported by study at four regencies of West Java, Indonesia which have strongly influenced by taboos behavior. Additional studies of practically maternal health care activity among pregnant women are needed. Regarding taboos behavior, nurse should offer health education among pregnant women on proper practice maternal health care activities.