Healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions regarding health care of indigenous pregnant women in Ecuador

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Marta Guijarro-Garvi¹  Nicola Mackintosh²  María Teresa Ruíz-Cantero³  Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias⁴  Victoria Abril-Ulloa⁵  Parisa Eslambolchilar⁶  Nervo Verdezoto⁶ 

[1] Department of Economics, University of Cantabria, Cantabria, Spain;Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain;Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK;Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain;CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain;Research Group on Food and Human Nutrition (GIANH), Faculty of Public Health, Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, Pan-American Sur Km 1 1/2, Riobamba, Ecuador;Research Group on Public Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Life Cycle, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador;School of Computer Science and Informatics, Human-centered Computing Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK;

关键词: Health care professionals;    Prenatal care;    Gender;    Human rights;    Pregnant women;    Ethic minorities;    Indigenous communities;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-022-04432-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPregnancy is an important life experience that requires uniquely tailored approach to health care. The socio-cultural care practices of indigenous pregnant women (IPW) are passed along the maternal line with respect to identity, worldview and nature. The cultural differences between non-indigenous healthcare professionals (HPs) and IPW could present a great challenge in women’s health care. This article presents an analysis from a human rights and gender perspective of this potential cultural divide that could affect the health of the IPW in an Andean region of Ecuador with the objective of describing the health challenges of IPWs as rights holders through the experiences and perceptions of HP as guarantors of rights.MethodsWe conducted 15 in-depth interviews with HPs who care for IPW in Chimborazo, Pichincha provinces of Ecuador. We utilized a semi-structured interview guide including questions about the experiences and perceptions of HPs in delivering health care to IPW. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis in Spanish and translated for reporting.ResultsWe found disagreements and discrepancies in the Ecuadorian health service that led to the ignorance of indigenous cultural values. Common characteristics among the indigenous population such as illiteracy, low income and the age of pregnancy are important challenges for the health system. The gender approach highlights the enormous challenges: machismo, gender stereotypes and communication problems that IPWs face in accessing quality healthcare.ConclusionsUnderstanding the diverse perspectives of IPW, acknowledging their human rights particularly those related to gender, has the potential to lead to more comprehensive and respectful health care delivery in Ecuador. Further, recognizing there is a gender and power differential between the provider and the IPW can lead to improvements in the quality of health care delivery and reproductive, maternal and child health outcomes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY