Indigenous women in Paraguay demand recognition for traditional midwives

Indigenous women in Paraguay are calling on the state for the official recognition of traditional midwives and the protection of their ancestral knowledge. During commemorations for the International Day of Indigenous Women in Asunción, community leaders highlighted the vital role these midwives play in areas where public health services are scarce or inaccessible.

Tina Alvarenga, executive secretary of the Articulation of Indigenous Women of Paraguay (MIPY), reported that many indigenous women avoid public hospitals due to discrimination and obstetric violence. She noted a significant cultural clash in medical settings, where public facilities often do not accommodate traditional birthing positions, such as vertical or squatting, preferring horizontal positions instead.

Beyond physical assistance, traditional midwives provide spiritual and psychological support to women throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Advocates argue that these practitioners serve as a necessary alternative in the absence of effective public policies that provide culturally sensitive and high-quality maternal care.