A Comparison of Practices During the Confinement Period among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Mothers in Singapore

• Published in: Birth (Berkeley, Calif.) Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 247 - 254
• Main Authors: Fok, Doris, Aris, Izzuddin M., Ho, Jiahui, Lim, Sok Bee, Chua, Mei Chien, Pang, Wei Wei, Saw, Seang-Mei, Kwek, Kenneth, Godfrey, Keith M., Kramer, Michael S., Chong, Yap Seng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Asian population; Attitude to Health - ethnology; Babies; birth-cohort; Carers; Child rearing; Childbirth; China - ethnology; Cohort analysis; confinement practices; Cultural Characteristics; Cultural differences; Diet; Diet - ethnology; Ethnic differences; Ethnic groups; Female; Humans; India - ethnology; Infant Care - methods; Infant, Newborn; Logistic Models; Malaysia - ethnology; Massage; Meals; Minority & ethnic groups; Mothers; Nannies; Postnatal Care - methods; postpartum; Postpartum Period - ethnology; Postpartum women; Pregnant women; Prospective Studies; Questionnaires; Singapore; Young Adult; Singapore; postpartum; Asian population; confinement practices; birth-cohort
• ISSN: 0730-7659; 1523-536X
• DOI: 10.1111/birt.12233

Background Confinement (restrictions placed on diet and practices during the month right after delivery) represents a key feature of Asian populations. Few studies, however, have focused specifically on ethnic differences in confinement practices. This study assesses the confinement practices of three ethnic groups in a multi‐ethnic Asian population. Methods Participants were part of a prospective birth cohort study that recruited 1,247 pregnant women (57.2% Chinese, 25.5% Malay, and 17.3% Indian) during their first trimester. The 1,220 participants were followed up 3 weeks postpartum at home when questionnaires were administered to ascertain the frequency of adherence to the following confinement practices: showering; confinement‐specific meals; going out with or without the baby; choice of caregiver assistance; and the use of massage therapy. Results Most participants reported that they followed confinement practices during the first 3 weeks postpartum (Chinese: 96.4%, Malay: 92.4%, Indian: 85.6%). Chinese and Indian mothers tended to eat more special confinement diets than Malay mothers (p < 0.001), and Chinese mothers showered less and were more likely to depend on confinement nannies during this period than mothers from the two other ethnic groups (p < 0.001 for all). Malay mothers tended to make greater use of massage therapy (p < 0.001), whilst Indian mothers tended to have their mothers or mothers‐in‐law as assistant caregivers (p < 0.001). Conclusion Most Singapore mothers follow confinement practices, but the three Asian ethnic groups differed in specific confinement practices. Future studies should examine whether ethnic differences persist in later childrearing practices.