Maternal Healthcare and Doulas in China: Health Communication Approach to Understanding Doulas in China

by Zoe Z. Dai

Overview

This brief explores the resurgence of the role of doulas in the child birthing process in Chinese clinical settings, as a lens to understand comparative pre- and post-natal care worldwide. The demand for doulas in China is increasing, and the rise in the use of doulas is thought to be due to increasing dissatisfaction with current institutional maternity health care. Attention is focused on Chinese women’s relationships with their bodies and on women’s experiences of choice, agency, and access to health and reproductive services as well as maternal health care information and support. Chapters present an overview of the current experience of pre- and post- natal care in China. In addition, chapters explore interview data on how Chinese doulas construct multiple identities, in terms of serving as lactation consultants, child care providers, and child care educators for women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Maternal Healthcare and Doulas in China will be of interest to researchers in public health and health policy, particularly with an interest in maternal health or Asian studies, as well as, health practitioners, and clinicians who are interested in issues related to women, maternity, health care, childbirth, and feminist research in China.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030469627
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	01/14/2022
Edition description:	1st ed. 2021
Pages:	81
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Zehui Dai (Ph.D., Bowling Green State University) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at Radford University. Dr. Dai studies interpersonal and health communication and teaches with the passion for education, diversity, public service, and social change. Her work has appeared in refereed journals such as the Journal of Perinatal Education, Health Communication, and American Behavioral Scientist

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Critical Health Communication and Feminism.- Chapter 3: Career Motivations for Doulas.- Chapter 4: Sisterhood: Sisters, Families, or Emotional Labour?.- Chapter 5: Medical Procedures and Discourses Around Women’s Bodies.- Chapter 6: Disagreements and Conflicts: Who is in Charge of the Delivery Room?.- Chapter 7: Looking Forward.- Concluding Thoughts and A New Beginning.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Christine Lee, PhD, RN, MPH (Kaiser Permanente)
Description: This book discusses both historical and current doula care in China. It provides vignettes from 16 doulas on the current intersection of roles in modern day China.
Purpose: The purpose of the book is to explore the resurgence of the role of doulas in clinical settings in China. As a clinical working within the perinatal space, the objectives of the book are greatly needed in current conversations on how to provide culturally relevant care for birthing persons. Though the book captures rich personal vignettes of doulas, the title provides an expectation of a "health communication approach to understanding doulas in China." As a reader, it was unclear if the health communication was tips to care for birthing persons as a clinician or an argument that doulas can be the key to health communication needs between provider and patient.
Audience: The book is intended for researchers interested in maternal health or Asian studies, in addition to clinicians related to women, maternity, health care, childbirth, and feminist research in China. The author is a health communication researcher and doctorally prepared author.
Features: The book gives intimate insight of doulas who work in China and addresses the influence that doulas provide within a cultural framework. There are no illustrations or diagrams to pull together concepts covered in the chapters to provide a summation of the components discussed.
Assessment: Though there is a need for a book that provides the insight of cultural considerations for birthing persons, this book has some shortcomings. The book is written intermittently in first and third person. Additionally, the health communication approach claimed in the title is not clear on application or context. Upon first glance of the title, one would likely anticipate the book would offer communication strategies that doulas provide or that healthcare providers could garner and provide to birthing persons.

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