title: When childbirth becomes a tragedy: What is the role of hospital organization?
abstract: In this autoethnographic study, I analyse my birthing event, in order to point out some relevant cultural aspects of the experience. I explore the role of expectations, childbirth place, medicalization and relationships with healthcare professionals and partner. My experience and the analysis of the context where childbirth takes place leads to the conclusion that hospital organization is central to women's experiences of giving birth, but the hospital culture is still too centred on the security that medical interventions guarantee, relegating people to a passive position. Health services should address personal agency, in order to guarantee more respectful childbirth care.
authors.affiliation: University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cipolletta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D000078682:Respect; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology
keywords: autoethnography; birth trauma; childbirth; healthcare systems; qualitative methods