Jl. Universitas No.21, Universitas Sumatera Utara doktoralikm@usu.ac.id

Qualitative Research Practices in Batak Toba Community

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Medan-FKM USU: The Student of Doctoral Study Program FKM USU academic year 2021/2022 held a practice course “Qualitative Research on Public Health” for the Batak Toba community in Ronggurnihuta District, Samosir Regency, Sumatera Utara Province, 30 June – 2 July 2022. This activity was guided by the course lecturer, Prof. Dr. Dra. Ida Yustina, M.Si, and Dra. Nurmaini, M.K.M., Ph.D. In this activity, students raised the practice of marapi/mararang and the habit of consuming bangun-bangun plants (Coleus aromaticus) in postpartum mothers. In addition, the physical activity of post-partum mothers, parenting patterns, exclusive breastfeeding, the habit of consuming bir hitam, and the high number of Total Fertility Rate (TFR) were also explored. Many interesting things were revealed from the habits of postpartum mothers in the Batak Toba community. All mothers interviewed adopted the habit of mararang/marapi because they were considered to accelerate the recovery of their physical health. Postpartum mothers always consume bangun-bangun plants to promote breast milk and drink bir hitam which is believed to cleanse the "dirty blood" in the mother's body due to the delivery process. Usually the mother has been active (washing, cooking and cleaning the house) 30 days after giving birth and helping her husband in the fields after 90 days after giving birth. Generally, mothers have not implemented exclusive breastfeeding for babies. Another interesting thing is the number of child births that are still high. The results of this course practice will then be written in a book.

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