Title: Arte de la Partería Indígena: Resistencias, desafíos y continuidades
Speaker: Tania Pariona Tarqui
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
Los objetivos de este mapeo son: identificar organizaciones de parteras indígenas, además de delinear la situación en la que se encuentran y las experiencias que se han generado cada país, acorde a su contexto histórico y aspectos legales. Finalmente, indicar las buenas prácticas, recomendaciones y retos señalados por las organizaciones de parteras de cada país.
Uno de los elementos relevantes del mapeo, es las diferencias que existen entre el ejercicio de la partería y la relación con el Estado, esto de acuerdo al nivel organizativo alcanzado por los grupos de parteras y los avances legales en el reconocimiento de la misma. Por ejemplo, algunas parteras en sus países presentan un estado de sobrevivencia por el poco o nulo reconocimiento de los pueblos originarios y la partería indígena, en otros casos por su nivel de organización hay parteras indígenas que en sus países exigen autonomía al Estado.
Sin embargo, en todos los países se dan prácticas de control, desprestigio y criminalización. Esto realza la importancia de fortalecer las organizaciones de parteras y de los pueblos originarios para la construcción de propuestas desde los sistemas de salud indígenas y la articulación horizontal con los Estados.
Como parte de sus recomendaciones se destaca la necesidad de fortalecer el tejido organizativo entre las parteras tanto a nivel nacional como en la región, el politizar la lucha por el respeto a las parteras y todas las mujeres como sujetos de derechos para que puedan tomar decisiones informadas sobre su cuerpo, su maternidad y la atención del parto desde su propia tradición y la necesidad del cuidado de las abuelas parteras que viven en situaciones vulnerables como garante de la continuidad generacional para el cuidado de las mujeres y comunidades de los pueblos indígenas.
Recording: https://youtu.be/zuIlj3va4E4
Speaker: Susana Ku
Facilitator: Paola Wilkin
We are a growing transnational collective consisting of members from the Global South and North, including midwives, doulas, scholars, educators, and mothers calling for an expansion of midwifery research to include what we coin “Critical Midwifery Studies”. We envision a Critical Midwifery Studies that uses three principles: 1.engagement and collaboration with rapidly developing fields within critical theory, 2.midwifery-led, 3. self-critical (developing ways to implement critical theory into practice). Systemic injustice is a threat to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, hence the application of the art and science of midwifery. The effects of this injustice are reflected in the high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates in formerly colonized countries of the Global South, in marginalized communities of the Global North, and in underprivileged classes around the world. We aim for an open discussion about midwifery research, education, practice, policy, and regulations, that are largely White and Western-centric, using positivistic and universalist principles of biomedical research. Although we recognize the global struggle for legitimacy that midwives face as they work to make their models of care more accessible, this coincides with pressure to engage with dominant and dominating paradigms, using language and approaches that are valued by regimes of power.
Our presentation will include a summary of our experience launching the first bilingual summer school for Critical Midwifery Studies held on July 2022, with delegates around the world. We will explain how our collective planned this activity including principles of equity and accessibility https://tinyurl.com/yc55dbw6.
Recording: https://youtu.be/TKrSfdmC9nM
Speakers: Giyawati Yulilania Okinarum, Venny Vidayanti and Sri Hasta Mulyani
Facilitator: Rizka Setyani
Yogyakarta is a popular tourist destination in Indonesia, but lactation rooms in public facilities in tourist areas are currently difficult or nonexistent. The lack of lactation rooms and facilities will affect breastfeeding activities for mothers who spend their daily lives in public places. Researchers propose a solution in the form of an innovative portable public breastfeeding room. Its goal is to assess user satisfaction with the newly developed public lactation room facilities. The descriptive-analytic method is used in this study. A questionnaire is distributed to determine user satisfaction. Then proceed with the selection of participants based on the results of the questionnaire distribution. Purposive sampling of 122 respondents who were breastfeeding mothers according to the established criteria was used in this study. The color and design of the lactation room received the highest mean satisfaction score (4.92), while ventilation received the lowest (1.66). The Ruang Sehati Lactation Room is an innovation that was created in response to the needs of users, specifically tourists who are breastfeeding mothers in Yogyakarta City’s tourist area. This innovation is also a pilot that can be shown nationally, presenting an image of Jogja City as a mother- and child-friendly tourist destination.
Recording: https://youtu.be/1WLiv8AkX34
Speaker: Arafin Happy Mim and Toma Ray
Facilitator: Margaret Aoro Adongo and Yosef Alemayehu Gebrehiwot
We are two young midwife leaders (23 years old) in Bangladesh who are board members of our midwives’ association (MA) and have recently graduated from an international leadership development programme. One works in a government health centre, the other in a Rohingya refugee camp. During 2022 we used quality improvement (QI) methodology to help our MA recruit and retain its members, and to develop guidance on responding to various types of emergency situations, which happen frequently in Bangladesh.
Discussion: MAs are examples of women-led civil-society organisations that can improve gender-equity and access to sexual and reproductive health rights, and act as agents for the profession (Mattison et al 2021). They have potential to impact each element of the ICM’s professional framework for midwifery. As midwifery is a new profession in Bangladesh, the midwives association (the Bangladesh Midwifery Society) is led by young women who are enthusiastic but inexperienced in organisational governance and leadership. A structured programme that taught us QI methodology was helpful for our leadership development, enabling us to drive change in our workplaces and in our MA.
Conclusions/Summary: We found it hard to apply QI methods to organisational development but we made it work. By sharing our lessons learned we hope to help other midwives and midwives’ associations understand how they can improve the quality of their services.
Reference: Mattison et al (2021) doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004850
Recording: youtu.be/IcuXTEOj7WQ
Speaker: Brenda Araujo Salas
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
A partir de las ilustraciones elaboradas por Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, una joven madre del pueblo Matsigenka, perteneciente a la amazonía peruana, describiremos las prácticas tradicionales en salud materna que aún se mantienen vigentes en las comunidades más alejadas de la vida moderna. Se describirán las concepciones y prácticas culturales durante la primera menstruación, los cuidados en el embarazo, la atención del parto por parte de la familia y parteras, y los cuidados en el posparto.
Conocer gráficamente las prácticas en salud materna a través de la mirada de una mujer del mismo pueblo, nos permite visualizar detalles significativos que se dan en la los cuidados de las mujeres gestantes y los recién nacidos. La importancia de este material es educativa y en favor de una mejora en la atención del parto para fundar la comprensión y el respeto a las costumbres y participación de las parteras y especialistas tradicionales de salud, ya que, actualmente, gran parte de las comunidades amazónicas tienen acceso a establecimientos de salud, pero estos ofrecen servicios sin pertinencia cultural. Por otro lado, el material también permite el reconocimiento de la importancia de los conocimientos de las mujeres Matsigenka en los niños, niñas y adolescentes.
English:
From the illustrations elaborated by Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, a young mother of the Matsigenka people, belonging to the Peruvian Amazon, we will describe the traditional practices in maternal health that are still in force in the communities farthest away from modern life. We will describe the cultural conceptions and practices during the first menstruation, pregnancy care, childbirth care by the family and midwives, and postpartum care.
The graphic presentation of maternal health practices through the eyes of a woman from the same village allows us to visualize significant details in the care of pregnant women and newborns. The importance of this material is educational and in favor of an improvement in childbirth care, in order to establish understanding and respect for the customs and participation of midwives and traditional health specialists, since, at present, most Amazonian communities have access to health facilities, but these offer services without cultural relevance. On the other hand, the material also allows the recognition of the importance of Matsigenka women’s knowledge in children and adolescents.
Recording: https://youtu.be/voZyHiTevvw
Speaker: Lucia Monetta
Facilitator: Susana Ku
In 2020, our Argentina Midwifery Association launched a pilot program to develop a committee to strengthen two areas that have been less explored in our profession: research and leadership.
With the group of 4 young midwives, this committee developed a purpose, objetives and structure that will allow argentinian midwives to develop skills that will equip them to make a visible impact on their communities, by positioning midwifery in the Research Health field and to take on leadership roles in the Health Care Systems and organizations that tackle Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal & Newborn Health injustices and inequities.
From this initiative, several program were born: internships/mentoring program, educational programs in research studies, conferences, seminars and one of the biggest accomplishments: a registered Midwifery Journal.
The leadership program has grown over the past three years, achieving important leadership roles, mentoring midwives, as well as, more publishing and research opportunities.
The Midwifery Journal “OBSTETRIX” continues to grow with more collaborations, more midwives publishing their research work from central, Latin America, and more than two thousand subscribers.
In this presentation, we want to encourage midwives to initiate this kind of programs and innovation to develop in their countries. We would like to explore the experiences and opportunities and that can be achieved by working with a unique working environment that allows midwives to develop their full potential and the lessons learned throughout this program.
Recording: https://youtu.be/vC2DOEfLsLQ
Speaker: Arafin Happy Mim
Facilitators:Raissa Manika Purwaningtias & Constance Odonkor(shadow)
Abstract:
I am Mim, a Young Midwife Leader from Bangladesh. One year ago, I assumed the role of supervisor of midwives on Basanchar, a remote island near Hatiya Upazilla, Bangladesh, catering to 32,574 people and 7899 families, many of whom were Rohingya refugees relocated from Coxs Bazar. The island faces numerous health challenges, especially for women and children, with limited access to medical facilities, requiring Navy Frigate transportation twice weekly. Upon arrival, I encountered midwives lacking confidence and support in their practice. As the first midwife supervisor, doubts surrounded my leadership abilities, compounded by the democratic system’s challenges. Despite skepticism, I prioritized listening, reflection, and evidence-based advocacy to empower midwives and amplify their voices. Through collaborative efforts, we transformed the team, nurturing leadership skills and expanding their scope of practice. With a multidisciplinary approach, we now offer comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and manage most complications locally, minimizing the need for external transfers. Looking ahead, our focus is on community awareness, affirming the pivotal role of midwives, and ensuring their practice aligns with standards. Continued education and research will further enhance our contributions to midwifery in Bangladesh, fostering a culture of quality care and acceptance in Basanchar.
Recording: https://youtu.be/_PO0Pisbxww
Speaker: Tracy Donegan
Facilitator: Portia Khanyile Shanduka
Abstract:
In recent years, the integration of light therapy into healthcare has emerged as a groundbreaking innovation. This novel approach, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM,Red Light Therapy, LLLT) harnesses the therapeutic potential of specific wavelengths of light (Red, Blue and Near Infrared) to accelerate wound healing, reduce the risk of infections and enhance overall well-being for mothers. The benefits of light therapy in postpartum care are multifaceted. PBM has been shown to alleviate acute pain by activating TGF-B1 and TRPV 1 in the cells promoting a more comfortable recovery without medication. The non-invasive, quick acting, harmless nature of light therapy makes it an important option for mothers seeking alternative methods to manage pain without relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions. Light therapy stimulates cellular repair and regeneration, expediting the healing of perineal tissues/cesarean incision, reducing inflammation and supports faster healing. This accelerates recovery from labor and birth contributing to a quicker return to normal functionality and comfort. PBM increases cellular energy (ATP) through the mitrochondria in our cells therefore reducing postpartum depletion. This abstract briefly explores the transformative potential of light therapy in postpartum care, emphasizing its holistic approach to recovery.
Recording: https://youtu.be/8K29SqDP4uc
