Hidalgo, Mexico, has created a state committee uniting traditional midwives and medical professionals to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between ancestral knowledge and modern medicine. By integrating these two approaches, the state seeks to provide a more humanized, intercultural model of care that reduces obstetric violence and improves survival rates for mothers and newborns.
The initiative focuses on strengthening the quality of care provided to pregnant women across the region. The state committee serves as a formal mechanism to coordinate efforts between community-based traditional practitioners and clinical medical staff.
There are differing reports regarding the size of the governing body. One source said the committee consists of 11 permanent members and eight invited special members [1]. Another report said that a total of 301 traditional midwives and professionals are working together within the committee [2].
By bringing traditional midwives into the formal health framework, the state of Hidalgo intends to ensure that women in rural or indigenous areas receive safer care. The model emphasizes interculturality, the recognition and respect of different cultural backgrounds, to encourage more women to seek professional medical assistance while maintaining their cultural traditions.
The program focuses on the transition from home births to clinical settings when complications arise. This coordination is intended to lower the risk of death during childbirth by ensuring that midwives can quickly refer patients to hospitals and that doctors respect the cultural needs of the patients.
“The state committee serves as a formal mechanism to coordinate efforts between community-based traditional practitioners and clinical medical staff.”
The integration of traditional midwives into the formal health system in Hidalgo reflects a growing trend in Latin American public health to address systemic barriers in rural care. By validating traditional practitioners, the state aims to increase the trust of indigenous populations in medical institutions, potentially reducing maternal mortality rates that are often higher in marginalized communities due to geographic and cultural isolation.
