Cross-cultural perspectives on the importance and reasons for choosing culturally congruent childbirth

Olalla García M.H.; Diaz-Manchay R.J.; Hidalgo Tapia E.C. · Index de Enfermeria (2025) · DOI: 10.58807/indexenferm20257988

Resumen

Objective: To explore the cross-cultural perspectives that motivate the choice of culturally congruent childbirth. Methods: Qualitative research, ethnographic approach. Observations (8 field guides) and interviews were conducted with 8 nursing professionals and 8 mothers in labor at the Alfredo Noboa Montenegro hospital, collecting their experiences and perceptions, which were selected through non probabilistic sampling. Main results: two cultural themes were identified 1) Perspectives of the nursing professionals regarding the choice of culturally congruent childbirth. 2) Laboring mothers' perspectives on the choice of culturally congruent childbirth. Overall conclusion: The findings reveal that culturally congruent childbirth functions as an intercultural bridge between traditional knowledge and safe professional care. Its choice is based on a balance between clinical safety, cultural significance, and autonomy, constituting a key practice for transcultural nursing and intercultural health policies.

Instituciones: Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo