Other Nursing Commons^™

Giving Birth: The Voices Of Ecuadorian Women, Lynn Clark Callister, Cheryl A. Corbett, Shelly Reed, Cassidy Tomao, Katie G. Thornton

Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the perceptions of Ecuadorian childbearing women. Background: No studies published in English could be found documenting the perspectives of Ecuadorian childbearing women about their birth experiences. Method: Thirty-two women who had recently given birth in Guayaquil, Ecuador participated in audiotaped interviews, which were analyzed as appropriate for ethnographic inquiry. Results: “Enduring birth to obtain the gift” was the overarching theme. Supporting themes included caring for self and accessing prenatal care to have a healthy newborn; relying on God to ensure positive maternal/newborn outcomes; submission of self to healthcare providers because …