Ecuador
Empowering Tradition and Wisdom
In the heart of Ecuador, we join hands with Martha and Luzmila Antonigo, a mother-daughter powerhouse dedicated to preserving the rich tapestry of traditional midwifery and indigenous healing. Through their wisdom and leadership, they are ensuring that the ancestral birth knowledge of the Andes continues to thrive in modern times.
Guardians of Ancestral Knowledge
In Ecuador, like many other places around the world, globalization has led to the erosion of vital perinatal traditions, as well as the loss of ancestral knowledge and cultural heritage. When perinatal traditions are devalued or lost, culturally competent care, which considers and respects the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of individuals and communities, becomes compromised. The absence of culturally competent care has negative consequences on maternal health outcomes as it can lead to decreased trust in the healthcare system, reluctance to seek or follow necessary care, cultural insensitivity in care practices, disruption of holistic care approaches, and failure to address the multifaceted needs of expectant mothers. This domino effect disproportionately affects marginalized communities, where cultural practices and traditions are often more deeply rooted.
Consequently, the loss of culturally competent care can contribute to maternal health disparities and inequalities, like higher rates of maternal morbidity, mortality, and adverse birth outcomes, among different racial, ethnic, and immigrant populations.
To mitigate these negative impacts, it is crucial to recognize and value the importance of perinatal traditions within diverse cultural contexts. Culturally competent care should be promoted and integrated into healthcare systems, ensuring that healthcare providers receive appropriate training and education to effectively understand and address the cultural needs and practices of the individuals they serve.
How Martha Arotingo’s Project is Transforming Maternal Health in Ecuador
Martha Arotingo’s work in Cotacachi, Ecuador, focuses on empowering women and preserving ancestral midwifery practices. Through her leadership, the "Unanchu Mamakuna" midwifery school and associated community programs are making a profound impact on maternal and child health. Here’s how:
-
Community Midwifery Education: Martha’s project provides essential training in traditional midwifery to women in rural communities, emphasizing culturally competent care that respects and incorporates indigenous knowledge and practices.
-
Defending Health Rights: The project empowers communities to exercise their rights to choose traditional medicines and culturally respectful childbirth practices, vital for the well-being of mothers and families.
-
Workshops and Sensitization: Educational workshops on sexual and reproductive health, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and conscious menstruation are provided to women, health agents, and schools in rural areas.
-
Comprehensive Birth Preparation: Martha’s program offers hands-on training in birth positions, labor techniques, therapeutic guidance, and postpartum care, including lactation, nutrition, and the spiritual significance of the placenta.
-
Formation of Community Health Leaders: By establishing spaces for collective learning, the program aims to create a network of trained community health leaders who can sustain and expand these practices.
-
Sustaining the Midwifery School: The "Unanchu Mamakuna" school requires approximately $60,000 annually to operate. This funding supports the training of new midwives, provides pedagogical materials, and sustains seven ancestral-community midwives who serve the rural areas of Cotacachi.
-
Improving Maternal and Child Health: The project seeks to reduce maternal dissatisfaction and improve emotional health and safety during childbirth, directly addressing maternal health disparities in the region.
-
Preservation of Ancestral Wisdom: Martha’s work ensures that the invaluable knowledge of traditional midwifery is not only preserved but revitalized, offering a model for how ancient practices can coexist with modern healthcare to improve outcomes.
“In our hands, we hold centuries of ancestral birth knowledge, understanding the depth of care that intertwines with the spirit of nature and humanity. The pedagogy and hierarchy of education must evolve—where medical doctors and traditional midwives learn from one another, recognizing the value each brings to maternal health. Wombs of the World has seen the significance of our teachings, aiding in the preservation and planting of our seeds of knowledge. It's a partnership where wisdom flows both ways, ensuring mothers everywhere receive the most compassionate, holistic care. This mutual exchange enriches us all, reminding us that every birth is a legacy of shared knowledge and respect."
Martha Arotigo, Traditional Midwife and total powerhouse in Cotacachi, Ecuador
Looking Ahead
By supporting the development of these projects, we contribute to a future where every birth is met with knowledge, respect, and the holistic care that every mother and child deserves. It's a partnership that enriches us all, reminding us of the profound connection between nature, humanity, and the enduring power of maternal wisdom.