Ginecol Obstet Mex. 1991 Dec; 59(): 353-7.

[An alternative to perinatal care: traditional midwives in the state of Morelos]

CastaÃ±eda Camey X, GuzmÃ¡n Pizarro L, Langer Glas A.

In Morelos, it is estimated that about 40 percent of the births are attended by traditional birth attendants or parteras. This indicates a considerable contribution made by these health care workers. The objective of this study is to present a profile of the parteras in the state of Morelos: their concepts, resources, practices, age groups, geographic concentration, and the degree of training they possess. At the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), a census was created from three sources: data on the rural areas obtained by researchers at INSP; censuses of the parteras made by the Secretary of Health; and those made by the Mexican Social Security System. The total number of parteras found was six hundred and thirty. They are distributed in 33 municipalities throughout the state with the majority lying in the border zones of the urban centers. Most of the parteras are between the ages of 51 and 70 years, however, there exists a small number who are less than 30 years old. Approximately 60 percent knew how to read and write, and half had received training on health services. Besides this information and other studies based on this theme, the parteras have been classified as traditional, trained, and untrained. Due to secondary sources, the data has inevitable limitations in quality. However, the integration of the three sources of information and its relation to qualitative variables constitutes the beginning point for elaboration on plans and programs with this therapeutic sector.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)