Immersing in the Daily Lives of the Xtieng Community to Understand Culture, Customs and Parenting Practices

From 17 to 20 July 2026, with the approval of the Dong Nai Department of Health, staff from the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD), as part of the EM-THRIVE Project, conducted a field visit to Tan Hung Commune to learn about the culture, customs, and childcare and parenting practices of the Xtieng ethnic community.

On the afternoon of 17 July, health workers from the Commune Health Station, together with village health workers, accompanied the RTCCD team to three households selected according to the following criteria:

• A household with a pregnant woman
• A household with a child under two years of age
• A household with a child aged 2–5 years

The selected households were families facing difficult socioeconomic circumstances, with multiple generations living together. This allowed the team to observe and gain a deeper understanding of distinctive aspects of the community’s daily life, family structure, and cultural practices.

The families shared valuable insights into their culture and childcare practices, including how women care for themselves during pregnancy, such as their dietary and rest practices. The team also learned more about the role of fathers in childcare and parenting, which is an important factor contributing to children’s healthy growth and holistic development.

Throughout the field visit, the team documented valuable feedback and recommendations from participating households to improve and supplement the program materials for the Xtieng community. These insights will serve as an important reference for contextualizing and adapting the program materials to ensure that they are culturally appropriate, relevant, and accessible when the Early Journey Program is implemented in the local community.