Ebook “Normal Birth: experiences from Portugal and beyond // O Parto Normal: experiências de Portugal e além-fronteiras”

Joanna White (CRIA) and Maria Johanna Schouten (CICS) (orgs.)

As a result of medical advances and technological developments, childbirth in Europe has been transformed from a physiological process usually taking place in the home, to a pathological, clinical event. This publication is concerned with what constitutes a normal birth in contemporary society, and current cultural influences on childbirth practices. What are the procedures and outcomes, opinions and preferences related to childbirth in different societies, and particularly Portugal? What is the interface between proponents of different approaches to childbirth? And what developments can we expect to see in the immediate future?
These issues were discussed by specialists from diverse backgrounds at an international seminar in Lisbon. This e-book includes a general and thematic introduction, a literal transcription of the seminar proceedings and discussions, academic and practical references and a comprehensive bibliography.
Each section is presented in both English and Portuguese.
This publication will be of interest to social scientists, health professionals, policy-makers and the wider public.

Joanna White is a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Anthropology in Lisbon and a Visiting Fellow at King’s College in London. An applied anthropologist with over 15 years of international experience, her current areas of research interest include cultural techniques of the body, embodiment and gender studies, particularly the construction of gendered identity.
Maria Johanna Schouten is Associate Professor at the University of Beira Interior and researcher at CICS, University of Minho (Portugal). Her research interests include gender studies, anthropology and sociology of health, sociology of the family and history and anthropology of Southeast Asia.

The book is available at:

http://www.lasics.uminho.pt/ojs/index.php/cics_ebooks/issue/view/132

By admin in News on 13/05/2014