Divinization, pilgrimage, and social inequality: experiences of women in the access to obstetric assistance

Abstract

Objectives: to understand the experiences of women from Brazilian northeastern semi-arid in accessing obstetric care. Methods: qualitative research conducted by the methodological framework of ethnonursing, carried out with 13 key informants in a public maternity hospital located in the Cariri region of Ceará in the Brazilian Northeast semiarid. The Observation-Participation-Reflection enablers was adopted for data collection, with observations recorded in a field diary and individual interviews, such as "tell me about". The immersion process in the field lasted five months. The empirical material was submitted to procedures of the data analysis guide for ethno-nursing. Results: from the patterns that emerged empirically, three cultural themes became evident: "It has to be delivered in the hands of God": discursive constructions about prenatal care; "We stay in this endless coming and going": antepartum pilgrimage; "If I were rich, I wouldn't be here": attention received in accessing maternity. Conclusions: in the cultural scenario analyzed, women were inserted in the context of clinical and social weaknesses, violation of rights and dignity, resorting to divine designs in the face of difficulties in accessing obstetric services and pilgrimage to guarantee consultations, exams, and hospitalization for childbirth.

EXPERIÊNCIAS DE MULHERES ACERCA DOS CUIDADOS OBSTÉTRICOS RECEBIDOS DURANTE A PARTURIÇÃO: abordagem transcultural

“…Evidencia-se, assim, a necessidade de implementar programas assistenciais e formativos que capacitem profissionais de saúde para desenvolvimento de competências culturais e promovam empoderamento e autonomia das mulheres para coparticipação nas ações e decisões 39,47 com vistas a superar a padronização e generalização das ações assistenciais de modo a contemplar socioculturalmente as necessidades de saúde 48 e contribuir para a promoção de cuidados culturalmente congruentes pautados na humanização e integralidade da assistência obstétrica.…”

Prenatal care associated with neonatal outcomes in maternity hospitals: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

“…Access to qualified obstetric care is still a challenge, especially in regions with a disorganized healthcare network. In addition, the country's vast territory favors the organizational inequality of health units, resulting in inadequate access and different geographical scenarios (13) .…”

Assistência pré-natal associada aos desfechos neonatais em maternidades: estudo transversal de base hospitalar

“…Ainda é um desafio o acesso à uma assistência obstétrica qualificada, especialmente em regiões com rede de atenção à saúde desorganizadas. Além disso, a ampla extensão territorial do país favorece a desigualdade organizacional das unidades de saúde, repercutindo em acesso inadequado, estampando cenários geográficos distintos (13) .…”