Socio-cultural and Religious Practices during the Antenatal Period in the Tamang Community in Bhaktapur District of Nepal

Abstract

Pregnancy is shaped by socio-cultural and religious practices as well as biology. Using an ethnographic, qualitative approach with a purposive sample of 25 participants, this study investigates antenatal practices in the Tamang community of Changu Narayan Municipality, Bhaktapur. Findings show pregnant women continue household labour with limited nutritional supplementation; dietary restrictions and symbolic prohibitions reinforced by traditional healers and family hierarchies shape maternal behaviour, revealing the antenatal period as both a biological and culturally significant stage.