Home care by traditional midwives in childbirth care

Abstract

Objective: to describe home care provided by traditional midwives during childbirth care. Method: this qualitative study, using the Thematic Oral History method, was conducted with 16 midwives from nine municipalities in Cariri, Ceará. Data were collected from July to December 2015 through semi-structured interviews, the reports were transcribed, textualized and transcreated. Results: midwives provided family care, vaginal delivery care, newborn care and immediate postpartum care. They used teas and prayers as an adjuncts to their craft. Conclusion: childbirth care by midwives centered on the women’s and families’ needs and, in some cases, extended to the home. Midwives knew the signs and symptoms of labor and acted on possible complications.