Tok Bidan (โต๊ะบีแด)’ s way of life: the preservation of folk wisdom and community culture in areas of deep south provinces, Thailand.

Abstract

The research titled “Tok Bidan (โต๊ะบีแด)’ s way of life: the preservation of folk wisdom and community culture in areas of deep south provinces, Thailand. ” aims to examine traditional birth attendants or midwives (โต๊ะบีแด) in Thailand deep south provinces; Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat regarding their way of life and the preservation of folk wisdom issues as well as approaches to maintain and enhance the roles of Tok Bidan as a group of people who preserve and enhance indigenous knowledge. 

            This study found that Tok Bidan are traditional midwives who have significant roles during the time of pregnancy and delivery of Thai-Malayu women in many villages. On the one hand, these women play a key role in local rituals (แนแง) related to spiritual, nursing, and folk medicine. According to Islamic birth ceremony, Tok Bidan is an important person in this ceremony. Also, those who are Tok Bidan have to have special characteristics and status quo in villages, and are accepted from people in their community.

            Moreover, Tok Bidan are a group of people who maintain indigenous knowledge. Although modern medical knowledge about pregnancy and delivery becomes more and more popular, Tok Bidan’s roles are still remained and are adapted with modern medical knowledge.

            In terms of preservation and development the roles of Tok Bidan as people who maintain local wisdom, it needs collaborations from various organizations, in particular, villagers and institutions both private and government institutions. If these collaborations have direct and concrete goals, Tok Bidan’s wisdom can survive in the modern world.