title: Childbirth care-seeking behavior in Chiapas.
abstract: This study was designed to better understand how women in a developing region choose between the multiple options available to them for birthing. We conducted focused, open-ended ethnographic interviews with 38 nonindigenous, economically marginal women in Chiapas, Mexico. We found that although medical services for birthing were readily available to them, these women most often chose traditional birth attendants (TBAs) for assistance with their births. They expressed a clear preference for TBAs in the case of a normal birth, but viewed medical services as useful for diagnosing and managing problem deliveries and for tubal ligations. They favored TBAs because they valued being able to choose birthing locations and birthing positions and to have relatives present during the birth, all features they must give up for medically attended births in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology and Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA. huntli@msu.edu
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Namino Melissa
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Glantz
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Halperin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008800:Mexico; D008880:Midwifery; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012423:Rural Health