Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

How To Plan A Birthday Party: An Allopathy Enthusiast's Guide To Integrating The Values Of Traditional Medicine Into Childbirth, Emily Baumgaertner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Unbiased literature regarding the strengths of traditional birth attendants is lacking. While many international organizations have published data regarding the improving success rates of allopathic interventions, there has been no acknowledgement or discussion of the qualities that keep traditional birth attendants in practice. This study has aimed to identify the distinct values of traditional medicine that contrast most allopathic healthcare practices. Through informal interviews with three traditional birth attendants and one allopathic provider in the rural region of Andasibe, Madagascar, the researcher unearthed some of the key differences between these practices' patient care before, during, and after childbirth. Results suggest …