Abstract

TORNQUIST, Carmen S.  and  LINO, Fernanda. Relatos de partos y parteras campesinas en Brasil: los cuentos hacen pensar. Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2005, n.6, pp.211-217. ISSN 1850-373X.

Although childbirth generally takes place in hospitals and clinics, there are still many regions in the world where women give birth in their homes with the assistance of midwives. In some remote rural areas of Brazil midwives help in childbirth according to techniques and knowledge from their beliefs systems. The WHO, within its recent policies aimed at the humanization of childbirth, encourages training courses for midwives in cooperation with NGOs. Some of these training programs are conducted by feminists devoted to the promotion of citizenship and sexual rights of poor women. This study analyzes the discourses of midwives on childbirth and gender relations during two courses in 2000 and through semi-direct interviews. This approach provided a unique opportunity for assessment of the symbolic universe of the peasant midwives in the Vale do Jequitinhonha, Brazil, one of the poorest regions in Brazil.

Keywords : Childbirth assistance; Gender relationships; Popular culture.

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