Complications in childbirth and associated cultural factors in indigenous women of Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract (English)

Introduction. Obstetric complications are fundamental factors behind maternal morbidity and mortality in the world. They can arise from maternal, foetal or obstetric factors and have a negative impact on the health and quality of life of women and their children. The greatest number of obstetric emergencies are concentrated in indigenous women due to their economic, social and cultural vulnerability.
Objective. To evaluate the report of childbirth complications and their associated cultural factors in indigenous women in two municipalities of Guerrero, Mexico.
Material and methods. Between 2021 and 2022 we conducted a study in 11 communities with indigenous population in the municipalities of Acatepec and Xochistlahuaca, in Guerrero, Mexico. Women who had given birth in the last three years participated. We applied a questionnaire with sociodemographic variables, related to the use of traditional medicine and customs for the care of the woman, information about the newborn, as well as complications during childbirth. The measurement of the complication of childbirth was by self-report. We calculated simple frequencies, and by bivariate and multivariate analysis we estimated the strength of association by odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, adjusted for clustering.
Results. Eight hundred and ninety-six women who had given birth in the last three years participated. Fourteen percent (128/896) of the women reported having some complication during labour. In the multivariate analysis the only variable that maintained statistical significance was that the woman followed her pregnancy care according to her customs and cultural care. Having this cultural attachment was identified as a factor with a negative association to the report of complications in childbirth (RMa 0.50, 95%CI 0.31-0.81).
Conclusions. Self-reporting of complications in childbirth was 14% of women with delivery in the last three years. The figure was lower than that reported in other similar studies. Cultural attachment was negatively associated with self-report of complication during labour.