Birth and Death Practices in Somalia - 644 Words

Birth and Death Practices in Somalia Birth and death practices in Somalia are both based on longstanding religious practices and cultural traditions, but the birth experience is largely the domain of women. For instance, Hernlund and Shell-Duncan (2007) report that, In Somalia, giving birth is an activity exclusively restricted to the womens sphere (p. 122). A study on birthing experiences of Somalia women conducted in Sweden, though, found that when given the opportunity, most Somalia women preferred the nontraditional approach to delivery in which the husband was present. In this regard, Hernlund and Shell-Duncan (2007) report that, Practically all the Somali women who had given birth in Sweden stated that their husbands were present at delivery (p. 123). The majority of the Somalia women in this study characterized the birthing experience as being positive, and some of the subjects indicated that more Somali men should be present during deliveries because it would help them understand the rigors and ordeals that are involved in the process as this would make their husbands more attentive to their needs in the future (Hernland Shell-Duncan, 2007). Many Somalian female infants continue to be mutilated at birth, though, based on longstanding religious imprecations and tradition. For instance, according to McDougall (1999), Muslim women in Somalia are routinely victimized at birth or as children by genital mutilation (infibulation, or removal of the clitoris)Show MoreRelatedThe Leading Cause Of Death And Disability For Somali Women Of Reproductive Age Essay962 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The leading causes of death and disability for Somali women of reproductive age are complication during pregnancy and childbirth, lack of access to skilled birth attendants, narrowly spaced births, early adolescent marriages, and female genital mutilation/cutting. Maternal mortality in Somalia is high and on the rise, it’s significantly higher than that of other developing countries. Country make steps towards reducing maternal mortality rates in Somalia. 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