PURPOSE:
PURPOSE To strengthen the professional competencies of undergraduate students and faculty responsible for the comprehensive education of future obstetrics professionals by promoting holistic and culturally respectful maternal care. This initiative aims to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality through the promotion of respectful childbirth practices.

DISCUSSION:
DISCUSSION Peru is a multicultural country with deeply rooted customs across its regions. However, it faces ongoing challenges in maternal morbidity and mortality, often linked to sociocultural barriers. Therefore, it is essential to integrate modern obstetric knowledge with traditional midwifery practices—ancestral customs that remain relevant in Peru—to deliver dignified, timely, and high-quality care that is culturally appropriate and free from discrimination. The Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann has adopted an educational methodology based on “experiential learning,” as proposed by UNESCO. This approach is implemented in the training of future obstetricians through an annual field trip integrated into the obstetric psychoprophylaxis course. Each year, approximately 50 eighth-semester students visit a traditional midwifery house in a community in the Cusco region. During this immersive experience, students learn firsthand about ancestral customs applied in traditional midwifery. They acquire knowledge on the importance of physical activity, the use of medicinal herbs, humanized childbirth practices, and rituals such as manteo (rebozo technique), pago a la tierra (offering to the earth), placenta burial, and temazcal (sweat lodge), among others—contributing to a holistic and integrative education.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
EVIDENCE The study trip was documented through video and photography. Additionally, the SPANAS survey was administered to assess both positive and negative perceptions of the learning experience, and guided interviews were conducted with three student interns.

KEY MESSAGE:
KEY MESSAGE Culturally respectful care and the adoption of ancestral midwifery traditions empower future obstetricians to serve as agents of change in advancing the holistic health of Peruvian women. Spanish - respectful care (including three-minute presentation competition)