Understanding childbirth practices as an organizational cultural phenomenon: a conceptual framework

Abstract

Understanding the main values and beliefs that might promote humanized birth practices in the specialized hospitals requires articulating the theoretical knowledge of the social and cultural characteristics of the childbirth field and the relations between these and the institution. This paper aims to provide a conceptual framework allowing examination of childbirth practices through the lens of an organizational culture theory. A literature review performed to extrapolate the social and cultural factors contribute to birth practices and the factors likely overlap and mutually reinforce one another, instead of complying with the organizational culture of the birth place. The proposed conceptual framework in this paper examined childbirth patterns as an organizational cultural phenomenon in a highly specialized hospital, in Montreal, Canada. Allaire and Firsirotu’s organizational culture theory served as a guide in the development of the framework. We discussed the application of our conceptual model in understanding the influences of organizational culture components in the humanization of birth practices in the highly specialized hospitals and explained how these components configure both the birth practice and women’s choice in highly specialized hospitals. The proposed framework can be used as a tool for understanding the barriers and facilitating factors encountered birth practices in specialized hospitals.

Paradox of the institution: findings from a hospital labour ward ethnography

“…The language in the above excerpt shows an institution-focused, rather than woman-focused mentality; a focus which is known to disrupt the midwife-woman relationship and is unsuited to midwifery philosophies and humanized birth practices [4, 47–50]. Despite this, there were also many examples of midwives giving woman-centred care within these institutional parameters.…”

“…Such texts illustrate how wider cultural norms and accepted understandings of childbirth, technology and medical expertise help to shape not only women’s knowledge of the birth process, but also their attitudes towards their bodies, their babies, and their birth experiences [2]. While culture is known to have an impact on birth understandings and practices [1, 3, 4], there is less research on the impact of culture specifically on the choice to use analgesia.…”

Predictors of decision making about childbirth setting in the southeast of Iran: home or hospital

“…In fact, this shows the social influence of group attachment on personal preferences and individual decisions (Lindstrom and Muñoz-Franco 2006). Behruzi et al (2013) cited from Kelin that Bwomen tended to want what the society values and what this technocratic society values is a high technology in almost every aspect of life^. In other words, the notions of risk and the reduction of mortality have been widespread through print and media and have discouraged community members from having homebirths and have increased the emphasis on hospital births (Jomeen 2010).…”

“…It is predictable that high social classes have higher standards of living and are more receptive to modern health care services. Accordingly, families belonging to high social classes are predictors of an Results are significant at 0.05 probability level increase in the likelihood of hospital birth, which is considered a movement toward safety, freedom from the pitfalls of biology (e.g., pain control), and more comfort (Behruzi et al 2013;Wiegers et al 1998). On the other hand, in addition to the notion of risk that encompasses childbirth (Nolan 2011), as Duong et al (2004) and the results of a qualitative study (Moudi 2011) reported, in the transition of the middle class like that observed in Baluch, hospital birth can be considered a luxury and something that can distinguish them from lower classes.…”

Dehumanization as an Ethical Issue in the Health Services Sector

“…Patients' satisfaction as well as their safety and comfort were key focus areas, the beliefs and needs of patients from different cultures were respected, family members were included in care services, visiting and companionship practices were flexible, and patients and their relatives felt valued. Here the hospital was designed like a hotel, and all these features were appreciated and perceived as facilitating elements in the health services (Behruzi, Hatem, Goulet, Fraser, & Misago, 2013).…”