Abstract:
A research was carried out on parturition in order to understand it better. The research aims to understand the meanings/interpretations of childbirth for the health professionals who attended foreign women at a maternity ward in the municipality of São Paulo. Documents which informed about live births from foreign mothers were analyzed and interviews were also carried out with health professionals. The outcomes for the studied period indicate that 20% of childbirths were from foreign women, 85% of which were Bolivian. The following issues were discussed in the interviews: the contradictions of the country where there is no discrimination; language barrier and language as a way of approaching; “submission” from Bolivian women and cultural differences during childbirth.
Keywords:
Immigration; Obstetric care; Discursive practices; Childbirth