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Navajo childbirth in transition.

A G Waxman1

  • 1Gallup Indian Medical Center, NM 87301.

Medical Anthropology
|March 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Navajo women transitioned from traditional childbirth to hospital births, influenced by WWII socioeconomic changes. This shift mirrors earlier Anglo-American adoption of biomedical childbirth, with implications for maternal health.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Anthropology
  • Sociology of Health
  • Indigenous Health Studies

Background:

  • Historically, Navajo childbirth was home-centered and ritualistic.
  • Anglo-American childbirth shifted to medicalized, hospital-based practices earlier in the 20th century.
  • The mid-20th century saw a rapid transition in childbirth practices for both Navajo and Anglo-American societies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine changes in Navajo childbearing practices.
  • To compare Navajo childbirth transitions with those of dominant American society.
  • To explore factors influencing Navajo women's acceptance of biomedical childbirth and its health implications.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative historical analysis of childbirth practices.
  • Review of social, economic, and cultural factors influencing adoption of biomedical childbirth.
  • Exploration of health outcomes associated with the transition.

Main Results:

  • Common factors drove the shift to biomedical childbirth in both Navajo and Anglo-American societies.
  • Socioeconomic changes on the Navajo Reservation post-WWII significantly influenced Navajo women's transition.
  • The study identifies key facilitators for Navajo women's acceptance of hospital births.

Conclusions:

  • The rapid transition to biomedical childbirth for Navajo women was influenced by both common societal trends and specific post-WWII Reservation changes.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for addressing the health implications of cultural shifts in childbirth.
  • Comparative analysis provides insights into the dynamics of medicalization in diverse populations.

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