Pregnancy and Childbirth Experience Among Tribal Women: A Qualitative Exploration

Tribal communities remain under a constant threat of poor maternal health outcomes, including pregnancy and childbirth. Recognizing the considerable scope in enriching the existing knowledge, this qualitative study with an inductive approach was conducted among the Munda community in Odisha. The study adopted the Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) approach in the data analysis process to interpret patterns and meanings within women’s own accounts of pregnancy and childbirth experience. The emerging themes highlight early and unplanned conception generally associated with neglected contraception practices and misconstrued perception of antenatal, childbirth and post-partum care. Furthermore, the study captures emotional distress and the influence of social support and the potential obstacles they face in experiencing healthy and positive maternity. The findings reveal that since pregnancy and childbirth include both subjective and collective factors, even an experience without medical complications can also be perceived as negative. Identifying traditional norms and socio-cultural context as indispensable, the study views that due attention to a multi-pronged approach holds relevance in enabling a healthy and desirable pregnancy and childbirth experience among women.