Humanization of birth, women's empowerment, and midwives' actions and knowledge

Experiences from Quebec and Chile

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5334670
AutoresRaymonde Gagnon (0000-0002-2899-7303, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, autor correspondente), Paulina López Orellana (0000-0003-2139-518X, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile)
Ano2022
Volume46
Fascículo135
Páginas987-998
Data de publicação2022-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSaúde em Debate (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0103-1104 • E-ISSN: 2358-2898
EditoraFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0103-1104202213503
OpenAlexW4313886789
SCIELO_PIDS0103-11042022000400987
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas24

Whether in pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth and/or the postnatal and neonatal periods, midwives' practices are underpinned by humanism. However, in this era of postmodernity, there is an ever-growing need for rehumanization. This article adopts an auto-ethnographic approach in order to undertake a reflective analysis on the humanization of birth based on the practice of midwifery in two different contexts, namely Quebec (Canada) and Chile. In light of the evolution of the profession in these two countries, and the influence of health policies and social movements, there are factors such as the systematic use of technology and the hypermedicalization of reproductive processes which are maintaining women's ignorance and keeping them from being able to participate in their maternity process. Women's autonomy and empowerment become a key element for their participation in decisions regarding their maternity, assistance methods, or type of care. Concurrently, midwives' autonomy is a prerequisite for fully exercising their role in supporting and assisting women in this re-appropriation of their power by means of a comprehensive approach that takes into account psychological and social aspects as well as biomedical ones

Appropriation · Autonomy · Element (criminal law) · Empowerment · Ethnography · Health care · Humanism · Ignorance · Medicalization · Political science · Postmodernity · Power (physics) · Sociology · Gender Studies · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology