Birth at the health center or at home: an analysis of birthing care among the Kukamas Kukamirias women of Peru

Abstract

Objective: to describe and analyze the culture and traditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care of the Kukama kukamiria women, living in the Peruvian Amazon, and their experiences and perceptions of care at home compared to that received at the health center. Methods: a qualitative study based on ethnography that seeks to analyze traditional knowledge and practices of self-care, taking into account descriptions of home births attended by traditional midwives, compared to that of birth care at the health institution. Results: home delivery prioritizes women's' comfort, through the use of teas, baths and specific rituals in caring for the placenta; dietary regulations and attention to environmental aspects such as temperature and lighting are built into care. At the health facilities, routine interventions include acceleration of labor with the use of drugs, vaginal cutting (episiotomy), immobilization in lithotomy position, and the disposal of the placenta as garbage; which is perceived as inadequate and aggressive. Conclusion: a preference for traditional care is justified based on feelings of neglect and vulnerability at institutionalized health centers, resulting from the lack of consideration by the health services for the cultural and well-being specificities of the Kukama Kukamiria women.

Práticas De Atenção Ao Parto E Nascimento: Uma Revisão Integrativa Da Literatura

“…Apesar de a institucionalização do serviço médico e os progressos tecnológicos terem apresentado benefícios significativos para a saúde materna e infantil, tem igualmente levado à integração de uma série de intervenções, algumas delas apontadas como desnecessárias ou mesmo prejudiciais. Da mesma forma, essa institucionalização também levou à desvalorização do modo da condução do parto na prática da parteira tradicional e o trabalho que realiza no seu conjunto (YAJAHUANCA et al, 2013).…”

Prevalence of essential newborn care in home and facility births in the Peruvian Amazon: analysis of census data from programme evaluation in three remote districts of the Loreto region

“…3, Table 2). ENC most frequently practiced included exclusive breastfeeding after birth (89% [84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92]), immediate drying (77% [71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83]), and delayed bathing (76% [71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81]).…”

“…Among home births, very few women practiced immediate skin-to-skin contact (9% [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]) while other thermal care practices of immediate drying and delayed bathing ranged between 74% [67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] and 80% [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84], respectively (Table 2). A similar proportion of women reported clean cord tying and cutting practices while only 59% [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66] of women practiced clean cord care without application of harmful substances.…”

A experiência de gravidez, parto e pós-parto das imigrantes bolivianas e seus desencontros na cidade de São Paulo - Brasil

“…O tema de tratamento especial da placenta em muitas culturas é importante e até a atualidade continua mantendo-se (YAJAHUANCA et al, 2013;MEDINA et al, 2006). Na população kukama kukamiria, por exemplo, eles consideram a placenta "vida que deu vida a outro ser" (YAJAHUANCA, 2009, p. 7).…”

“…Essas considerações, que pareceriam insignificantes, tem um grande significado na cosmovisão da cultura, que influi no recém-nascido. Em muitas culturas a placenta é considerada "vida que deu vida a outro ser" (YAJAHUANCA et al, 2013).…”