Santal Christian Women’s Cultural and Religious Practices during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63539/isrn.2026004Abstract
Religious and cultural beliefs have a significant influence on the maternal experience across many societies, including those of the Santal in Bangladesh. During pregnancy, Santal women often practice several cultural and religious rules for protection, mental peace, and well-being. This study analyzed the religious and cultural beliefs and practices of Santal women during the antepartum period. A qualitative phenomenological approach was applied, involving eight women and eight men from the family who had a recent experience of pregnancy. The data were collected from October 2023 to December 2023. All the respondents were selected through purposive sampling. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted in Bangla. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The analysis was done employing a thematic approach. Ethical approval was obtained for the study, and confidentiality and anonymity were ensured. The findings of this study revealed that three main types of cultural and religious practices were available among the Santal Christian women during pregnancy. These are religious faith-based maternal practices, traditional protective cultural beliefs and practices, and family-imposed rules. Faith-based maternal practices included personal and combined prayers, vow making, church-based thanks, consultation with priests, and the use of sacred objects such as blessed water, the Bible, Jop mala (rosaries), and stickers. Traditional safeguarding practices and cultural beliefs during pregnancy included movement restrictions, the belief in the evil eye, clan-based protective measures, food restrictions, and avoidance of activities during eclipses. Moreover, family influence during pregnancy highlighted how women followed cultural and religious practices due to social and family pressure. The Santal Christian women adhered to deeply rooted religious and cultural practices during pregnancy. The study suggested that religious and cultural beliefs should be an integral part of healthcare providers' training, enabling them to understand and provide holistic services that cater to the diverse needs of their patients.
Downloads
References
Anderson, E. N. (2002). Changing Chinese Foodways in Asia. Edited by David Y. H. Wu and Tan Chee-Beng. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 2001. HK $148.00. The Journal of Asian Studies, 61(2), 689–691. https://doi.org/10.2307/2700316.
Ayaz, S., & Yaman Efe, S. (2008). Potentially harmful traditional practices during pregnancy and postpartum. The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 13(3), 282–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/13625180802049427.
Aziato, L., Odai, P. N. A., & Omenyo, C. N. (2016). Religious beliefs and practices in pregnancy and labour: An inductive qualitative study among post-partum women in Ghana. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 16(1), 138. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-0920-1.
Breen, G. V., Price, S., & Lake, Margaret. (2006). Another Aspect of Patient Care. AWHONN Lifelines, 10(6), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6356.2006.00095.x.
Chand, S. B. (2016). Cultural Beliefs and Traditional Rituals about Child Birth Practice in Rural, Nepal. MOJ Public Health, 4(7). https://doi.org/10.15406/mojph.2016.04.00106.
Chowdhury, M. S., & Chakma, P. (2016). Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh. Kapaeeng Foundation.
Debnath, M. (2010). LIVING ON THE EDGE: THE PREDICAMENT OF A RURAL INDIGENOUS SANTAL COMMUNITY IN BANGLADESH [Doctor of Education thesis]. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
Elter, P. T., Kennedy, H. P., Chesla, C. A., & Yimyam, S. (2016). Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 27(3), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659614553515.
Fouka, G., Plakas, S., Taket, A., Boudioni, M., & Dandoulakis, M. (2012). Health-related religious rituals of the Greek Or-thodox Church: Their uptake and meanings. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(8), 1058–1068. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12024.
Griffith, E. E. H., & Young, J. L. (2014). Therapeutic dimensions of sacred garments worn by the Barbados Spiritual Baptists. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 17(3), 313–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2013.803240.
Helman, C. G. (2007). Culture, health and illness (5th ed.). Hodder Arnold.
Hofberg, K., & Ward, M. R. (2003). Fear of pregnancy and childbirth. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 79(935), 505–510. https://doi.org/10.1136/pmj.79.935.505.
Hossain, M. A., & Uddin, E. (2020). Education and Health: Pathways in Muslim, Hindu, and Santal Communities, Bangla-desh: Core Findings [Research Proposal]. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344774174_Education_and_Health_Pathways_in_Muslim_Hindu_and_Santal_Communities_Bangladesh_Core_Findings.
Jesse, D. E., Schoneboom, C., & Blanchard, A. (2007). The Effect of Faith or Spirituality in Pregnancy: A Content Analysis. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 25(3), 151–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010106293593.
Johnson, M. R. D. (2004). Faith, prayer, and religious observances. Clinical Cornerstone, 6(1), 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1098-3597(04)90003-8.
Kaaya, S. F., Mbwambo, J. K., Smith Fawzi, M. C., Van Den Borne, H., Schaalma, H., & Leshabari, M. T. (2010). Understanding women’s experiences of distress during pregnancy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 12(1), 36–46. https://doi.org/10.4314/thrb.v12i1.56277.
Lee, D. T. S., Ngai, I. S. L., Ng, M. M. T., Lok, I. H., Yip, A. S. K., & Chung, T. K. H. (2009). Antenatal taboos among Chinese women in Hong Kong. Midwifery, 25(2), 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2007.01.008.
Liamputtong, P., Yimyam, S., Parisunyakul, S., Baosoung, C., & Sansiriphun, N. (2005). Traditional Beliefs about Pregnancy and Childbirth among Women from Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Midwifery, 21(2), 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2004.05.002.
Okafor, C. B. (2000). Folklore Linked to Pregnancy and Birth in Nigeria. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 22(2), 189–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/019394590002200206.
Pinku, R. K. D. (2020). Subsidence of the Santal Culture: Perspective, Rajshahi. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 8(12), 41–52.
Population and Housing Census 2022: National Report (Volume 1). (2022). [Government Report]. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Razzaque Sarker, Md. A., Ahmad Khan, N., & Musarrat, K. M. (2016). Livelihood and Vulnerability of the Santal Community in Bangladesh. The Malaysian Journal of Social Administration, 12(1), 38–55. https://doi.org/10.22452/mjsa.vol12no1.2.
Rholand Muary. (2021). The Sociological Meaning of Pregnancy and Baby Birth Ceremonies in Javanese People in Buntu Pane Village, Asahan. Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture, 2(4), 162–170. https://doi.org/10.33258/lakhomi.v2i4.535.
Shamsuddoha, M., & Jahan, Ms. R. (2018). Santal Community in Bangladesh: A Socio-historical Analysis. Asian Journal of Humanity, Art and Literature, 5(2), 89–100. https://doi.org/10.18034/ajhal.v5i2.339.
World Health Organization. (2016). WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. World Health Organization.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Tahmina Naznin, Md. Tanbin Jaman Riad (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Chat with us