Maternal Care in Rural Women: Contemporary Experiences of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Postpartum in the Central Ecuadorian Andes

This anthropological research project addresses the maternity experiences of rural women in the Tisaleo canton, in the central Ecuadorian Andes. Against a backdrop of Andean modernization, structural inequality, and the persistence of patriarchal and colonial logics, the study examines how women navigate the tensions between self-care and care for others. Despite improvements in public health indicators, significant gaps in maternal care persist, exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to complex health services. The methodology employed is qualitative with a situated ethnographic approach, allowing for a deep understanding of life trajectories and women's survival strategies. Through interviews, participant observations, and document analysis, the research seeks to identify how class, ethnicity, and age influence care practices. The project not only aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding maternal health as a social practice but also to promote an anthropology committed to life, integrating academic support activities for the participants' children. The final results will contribute to a better understanding of motherhood in rural contexts, informing future public policies and equity strategies.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To analyze the beliefs, values, practices, and meanings regarding maternal care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period among rural women in the Tisaleo canton. The study aims to understand how these processes are produced and reproduced by the women, their families, the community, and healthcare providers.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Anthropological studies