Survivability in Exile: The Study of Formal and Informal Education of Boti Women in Maintaining the Tradition in “Rumah Bulat”

This research is aimed to examine the roles of education in forming survivability in exile of women of the Boti tribe during giving birth until the puerperium in “rumah bulat” (a traditional round-shaped house). The participants of this research were both primigravida and multigravida mothers. Secondary data were collected from interviewing the midwives and traditional leaders of “inner” Boti tribe. Data collection methods were done by having in-depth interview and observation, while qualitative method was also used. The results of this research showed a very traditional process of giving birth and the puerperium, also lacking of proper health facilities. It was caused by the inability of formal education in answering how Boti women could apply and live healthy life and environmental cleanliness toward their physical needs. In different circumstances, the role of informal education emphasized by family members and traditional leaders to maintain the local tradition in order to be safe and prosperous has made the Boti women take and face the reality in order to exercise the belief of the tribe in surviving in exile, although having dilemmatic psychological impacts such as anxiety, fear, boredom, loneliness, depression, even trauma. However, informal education was found to have more influence in creating survivability of Boti women in exile