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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Midwives and their perception of cesarean section rate in Uruguay
1
Universidad de la República- Facultad de Psicología, Instituto Psicologìa de la Salud, Montevideo, Uruguay
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A328
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Cesarean section is one of the most complex procedures in the end of pregnancy. Its excessive and sustained use over time has generated concern worldwide, which has led to studies and recommendations for its regulation. In Uruguay, this situation is also relevant, with a cesarean section rate of 48%.
OBJECTIVES:
to analyze the psychosocial, organizational and health factors involved in the high incidence of cesarean section in Uruguay from the perspective of midwives.
METHODS:
qualitative study of flexible cross-sectional design with a descriptive and analytical scope, with an intentional sample of 11 midwives in the city of Montevideo. The technique used was the semi-structured interview. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Psychology.
RESULTS:
The findings show the multicausality of the phenomenon, articulated at three levels: health management, health professionals and users. Midwives acknowledge progress, such as their presence in all maternity wards and the implementation of childbirth preparation classes. However, a discourse persists which, although critical, maintains medicalizing logics and the perception of greater safety in interventions. In addition, there is a tendency to hold obstetrician-gynecologists and women responsible. Thus, the collective of midwives is placed outside the problem and does not visualize in their professional practice any element that could contribute with improving this situation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Birth is still seen as a pathological event. It is necessary to incorporate in a profound way the conception of birth as a physiological process, where midwives can position themselves as key actors in the change of paradigm (from the technocratic model to a humanistic model). To this end, it will be necessary to review both academic training and professional practice, as well as advocacy in the field of public policy, for a truly autonomous professional practice of midwives.
KEY MESSAGE:
cesarean section, midwives, motives, reduction measures Spanish - labour and birth
Cesarean section is one of the most complex procedures in the end of pregnancy. Its excessive and sustained use over time has generated concern worldwide, which has led to studies and recommendations for its regulation. In Uruguay, this situation is also relevant, with a cesarean section rate of 48%.
OBJECTIVES:
to analyze the psychosocial, organizational and health factors involved in the high incidence of cesarean section in Uruguay from the perspective of midwives.
METHODS:
qualitative study of flexible cross-sectional design with a descriptive and analytical scope, with an intentional sample of 11 midwives in the city of Montevideo. The technique used was the semi-structured interview. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Psychology.
RESULTS:
The findings show the multicausality of the phenomenon, articulated at three levels: health management, health professionals and users. Midwives acknowledge progress, such as their presence in all maternity wards and the implementation of childbirth preparation classes. However, a discourse persists which, although critical, maintains medicalizing logics and the perception of greater safety in interventions. In addition, there is a tendency to hold obstetrician-gynecologists and women responsible. Thus, the collective of midwives is placed outside the problem and does not visualize in their professional practice any element that could contribute with improving this situation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Birth is still seen as a pathological event. It is necessary to incorporate in a profound way the conception of birth as a physiological process, where midwives can position themselves as key actors in the change of paradigm (from the technocratic model to a humanistic model). To this end, it will be necessary to review both academic training and professional practice, as well as advocacy in the field of public policy, for a truly autonomous professional practice of midwives.
KEY MESSAGE:
cesarean section, midwives, motives, reduction measures Spanish - labour and birth
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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