The professional midwifery It has become a key tool for improving reproductive health in Mexico, offering a viable alternative to reduce the alarming number of unnecessary cesarean sections and eradicate obstetric violence.
According to recent data from the National Center for Gender Equity and Reproductive Health (CNEGSR)cesarean sections represent a high percentage in health institutions in Mexico: more than 70% in the public sector and up to 85% in the private sector.
This scenario, in many cases, is due to the practice of surgical interventions that are not always necessary from a medical point of view, but which have become normalized for convenience or for economic reasons.
The director general of CNEGSR, Yolanda Varela Chávez, stressed the importance of promoting professional midwifery as an effective solution to reduce this trend.During the Second International Congress of Professional Midwifery, Varela highlighted how care provided by trained midwives can significantly contribute to reducing the rate of unnecessary cesarean sections and maternal mortality.
According to 2022 figures, the maternal mortality rate was 38.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, a 55% decrease compared to 1990. This progress is a clear sign that policies focused on professional midwifery are beginning to bear fruit.
Academic training for humanized and quality care
The conference, held virtually, focused on the need for strong academic training for midwives, geared toward providing care centered on people, families and communities.
Professional midwifery not only focuses on the medical aspects of childbirth, but also promotes a broader approach to health that includes respect for women’s autonomy and their decisions during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. This comprehensive and empathetic vision is essential to combat obstetric violence, a problem that affects many women in their reproductive process.
Mexico’s commitment to reproductive health is not limited to the promotion of professional midwifery. The country is also implementing policies to ensure equitable access to quality health services and reduce the gaps in care that still exist. According to Varela Chávez, although significant progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to ensure that all women and pregnant people can access safe and respectful health services.
The people-centred approach to care, applied especially to maternal and perinatal health, focuses on making each pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience positive. This implies a commitment to the utmost respect for the autonomy and decisions of women and people with the capacity to bear children, which is essential to promoting quality care and reducing maternal mortality.
Midwifery as a bridge to a healthier future
The International Congress of Professional Midwifery has served as a space for reflection and debate on the crucial role that midwives play in today’s health systems. Professional midwifery not only helps alleviate the saturation of secondary level hospitals by promoting the care of low-risk births in primary level health units, but also contributes to providing quality care, warmth and respect for sexual and reproductive rights.
Professional midwifery represents a model of care that puts people, their families and communities at the center. As Mexico moves toward more equitable and quality care, strengthening professional midwifery is consolidated as an essential strategy to improve reproductive health outcomes and ensure a healthier future for all women and pregnant people in the country.
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