15 October 2009
Maori women's experiences and practices around childbirth will be examined by Waikato University doctoral student Naomi Simmonds who has been awarded a government-funded Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship.
The scholarship, one of just 14 awarded in New Zealand in 2009, is worth nearly $97,000 over three years. The funding will allow Ms Simmonds to examine Maori women's experiences of childbirth and include any spiritual aspects of Maori culture that may impact on childbirth.
Ms Simmonds, of Raukawa descent, says her research will examine how (or if) Maori cultural practices influence Maori women's experiences of childbirth. A common traditional practice is to bury the placenta after birth, but Ms Simmonds says whether practices from using flax to tie off the umbilical cord to doing prayers and chants during childbirth are either known or used needs to be explored.
"Childbirth is a profound and life-changing experience for women and their families," says Ms Simmonds. "Understanding the spiritual, emotional and whanau elements is important. Yet, there is still little research that addresses these concepts in relation to pregnancy and childbirth in academic literature."
Ms Simmonds says she will examine the implications of Western and medical practices on Maori women's experiences of childbirth and present the complexities that Maori women face living in a post-colonial society.
"I'm hopeful my research will centralise Maori women's voices and make a significant contribution to pregnancy and childbirth policy development and practice," she says.
Ms Simmonds is one of five Waikato students to receive a Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship this year. Three specialise in computer science, one in engineering and one in geography.
The Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships aim to increase the supply of highly trained researchers and highly skilled graduates by providing support to doctoral students over 36 months.