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State Institutionalization of Indigenous Knowledge-Practices of Childbirth: A Critical Exploration of the Dynamics of Authoritative Knowledge in Intercultural Health Policies in Ecuador

Castillo Cardenas, Emilie Desire LU (2018) SIMV21 20181
Graduate School
Master of Science in Social Studies of Gender
Abstract
This research explores the processes of articulation between indigenous-ancestral knowledge practices of childbirth and the biomedical logic that articulates the field of medicine and state interventions. It unravels the question of: how do government policies in Ecuador construct the discourse around the dynamics between traditional-indigenous childbirth and biomedical interventions, and what implications does this have for indigenous knowledge-practices? By conducting a Critical Discourse Analysis on the official Technical Guide to Culturally Appropriate Childbirth Care (PCA), the study critically analyses the narrative that the Ecuadorian government is using when it comes to presenting traditional-indigenous childbirth
and parteras.

... (More)
This research explores the processes of articulation between indigenous-ancestral knowledge practices of childbirth and the biomedical logic that articulates the field of medicine and state interventions. It unravels the question of: how do government policies in Ecuador construct the discourse around the dynamics between traditional-indigenous childbirth and biomedical interventions, and what implications does this have for indigenous knowledge-practices? By conducting a Critical Discourse Analysis on the official Technical Guide to Culturally Appropriate Childbirth Care (PCA), the study critically analyses the narrative that the Ecuadorian government is using when it comes to presenting traditional-indigenous childbirth
and parteras.

From an inductive-interpretative approach, the study concludes that: a) by focusing on the reducing maternal and infant mortality, the document implicitly constructs a discourse of traditional-indigenous childbirth practices as risky; b) institutionalizing these practices has led to the creation of a simplistic and fragmented narrative, limiting traditional indigenous knowledge-practices to their cultural and technical dimensions; c) the result is an implementation plan that portrays parteras as merely ‘health staff assistants’, ‘companions’ and ‘translators’. In sum, the monopoly over childbirth knowledge is again reassured by medical institutions and the ‘authoritative knowledge’ of biomedicine is not challenged but rather reinforced.

This research is inspired by the concern over losing counterhegemonic spaces where practices can exist beyond the biomedical logic. The study advocates for finding ways to engage in a horizontal dialogue, were traditional-indigenous childbirth is not separated from the entire worldview to which it belongs. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Castillo Cardenas, Emilie Desire LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV21 20181
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
medicalization, traditional-indigenous childbirth, authoritative knowledge, institutionalization, indigenous epistemologies, parteria, Ecuador.
language
English
id
8950724
date added to LUP
2018-06-27 12:19:38
date last changed
2018-06-27 12:19:38
@misc{8950724,
  abstract     = {{This research explores the processes of articulation between indigenous-ancestral knowledge practices of childbirth and the biomedical logic that articulates the field of medicine and state interventions. It unravels the question of: how do government policies in Ecuador construct the discourse around the dynamics between traditional-indigenous childbirth and biomedical interventions, and what implications does this have for indigenous knowledge-practices? By conducting a Critical Discourse Analysis on the official Technical Guide to Culturally Appropriate Childbirth Care (PCA), the study critically analyses the narrative that the Ecuadorian government is using when it comes to presenting traditional-indigenous childbirth
and parteras.

From an inductive-interpretative approach, the study concludes that: a) by focusing on the reducing maternal and infant mortality, the document implicitly constructs a discourse of traditional-indigenous childbirth practices as risky; b) institutionalizing these practices has led to the creation of a simplistic and fragmented narrative, limiting traditional indigenous knowledge-practices to their cultural and technical dimensions; c) the result is an implementation plan that portrays parteras as merely ‘health staff assistants’, ‘companions’ and ‘translators’. In sum, the monopoly over childbirth knowledge is again reassured by medical institutions and the ‘authoritative knowledge’ of biomedicine is not challenged but rather reinforced.

This research is inspired by the concern over losing counterhegemonic spaces where practices can exist beyond the biomedical logic. The study advocates for finding ways to engage in a horizontal dialogue, were traditional-indigenous childbirth is not separated from the entire worldview to which it belongs.}},
  author       = {{Castillo Cardenas, Emilie Desire}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{State Institutionalization of Indigenous Knowledge-Practices of Childbirth: A Critical Exploration of the Dynamics of Authoritative Knowledge in Intercultural Health Policies in Ecuador}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}