Maternal-neonatal care with an ancestral approach

Foundation: Maternal-neonatal care with anancestral approach is a practice that integratesancestral knowledge and practices. Objective: todetermine the knowledge in maternal-neonatal careof midwives. Methods: descriptive and cross-sectional studyfrom June to December 2022, in Health District06D04 Colta Guamote - Guano Penipe, Ecuador. Thepopulation was made up of 65 midwives and thesample 34 midwives. Sociodemographic variablesand others related to knowledge about care forpregnant women, childbirth and the newborn werestudied. Results: 74 % have attended between 10 and 49births at home and the same percentage reportedhaving kits for childbirth care. The vast majorityrecommend that pregnant women have four or morecheck-ups, and consider vaginal bleeding, headache,swelling of hands and feet, and intense abdominalpain as the main symptoms that endangerpregnancy. 82% consider the kneeling position asthe main position for childbirth care, and more thana third said that the placenta is planted in the field.Regarding newborn care, the highest percentagesrecognized: cutting the umbilical cord, directskin-to-skin contact, and keeping the newborn warm.Among the danger signs for the newborn, 100%indicated not breathing, and more than 70% bathethe newborn between the 1st and 5th day. Conclusions: In indigenous communities, the role ofmidwives as caregivers is essential