Traditional Birth Attendants Among the Tharus in the Age of Biomedicine (A Case Study of Sorhiniya from West Central Tarai)

Abstract

Anthropological study on TBAs and other similar culturally derived medical practices have not earned significant interest among Nepali anthropological researchers yet. Hence, this work is solely intended to strengthen the knowledge on indigenous medical practices so that more such researches could be carried out easily and efficiently in the days to come. About the content of this research, it's all about an attempt to figure out the ways how traditional birth attendants have been sustained its existence amidst various biomedical interferences and this also shows cultural relationship of the sustenance of Sorhiniya system with modern development processes along with behavioral social components stemming from current social structure. The larger objective of the study is to find the role, status and condition of Sorhiniya in Tharu community and to study the effect of biomedical intervention on TBA. The research tools used during the study were life history of Sorhiniya and trained birth attendants, in -depth interview with the clients of Sorhiniya, biomedical institution and interviews with biomedical staff and Guruwa (Tharu Shaman). Focus Group Discussion was another tool used in the research field. Extraction of data which was thought to be the most complicated part in the research was ultimately an easy task due to cordial responsiveness and willingness of the people for co-operation in the field area. As a conclusion of the study based on the collected data, traditional birth attendance still exists as a cultural legacy in Tharu community, but its sustenance in coming days doesn't seem that guaranteed since it is moving through various biomedical interferences even from the level of government. Biomedicine being the gift of modern science owns a power of authenticity whereas traditional birth attendance is functioning as a medical practice rooted to Tharu culture which still dominantly exists among Tharu people due to their cultural affinity with such practice and with economic perspective, economically lower class people tend to manage themselves with easy practices around and is also a next reason for current persistence of Sorhiniya system in the field area. Furthermore, sustenance of TBA in the village can be perceived as their resistance to such biasness from government from government. And in according with such resistance exists when the people are trapped in power relations that put TBA under the serious threat of losing its identity. Hence, TBA when a study as resistance becomes tools to explore the power relations that lies there.