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

Experiences from Quebec and Chile

Datos Bibliográficos

ID5334670
AutoresRaymonde Gagnon (0000-0002-2899-7303, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, autor de correspondencia), Paulina López Orellana (0000-0003-2139-518X, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile)
Año2022
Volumen46
Número135
Páginas987-998
Fecha de publicación2022-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSaúde em Debate (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0103-1104 • E-ISSN: 2358-2898
EditorialFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0103-1104202213503
OpenAlexW4313886789
SCIELO_PIDS0103-11042022000400987
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias 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