Poster Presentation academic Midwife in Argentina Buenos Aires –Free Word Template Download with AI

Contextual Background

The Argentine Healthcare Landscape:

Argentina possesses a robust public health infrastructure, yet the management of pregnancy and childbirth remains heavily medicalized. Unlike countries where midwives have long held autonomous roles in community and hospital settings, Argentina has traditionally relied on obstetricians (obstetras) for all aspects of delivery care. However, the unique demographic profile of Buenos Aires presents a complex case study.

Buenos Aires: A Microcosm of Challenges:

The City Autonomous Government (CABA) and the Province of Buenos Aires exhibit stark contrasts in health outcomes. While private clinics offer high-intervention care, public hospitals in peripheral neighborhoods often face resource constraints. In these settings, midwives—often referred to locally as "comadronas" or working under nursing frameworks—are frequently the backbone of maternity wards, yet they operate with limited legal autonomy and recognition.

Theoretical Framework

This presentation is grounded in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing maternal health. We apply the Biopsychosocial Model, arguing that effective midwifery care in Buenos Aires must address not only clinical outcomes but also cultural beliefs surrounding childbirth ("el parto"), socioeconomic barriers, and gender dynamics within healthcare hierarchies.

The Professional Gap

A central theme of this poster is the "professional gap" between nursing and midwifery in Argentina. Currently, there is no universally recognized, independent university degree for "Midwife" (Matrona) that grants full legal autonomy comparable to other healthcare professions.

• Clinical Autonomy: In Buenos Aires, nurses often perform intrapartum care but lack the specific training in physiological birth management that characterizes international midwifery standards.
• Labor Laws: Existing labor agreements do not adequately compensate or define the scope of practice for skilled birth attendants who are not physicians.
• Cultural Perception: The public perception in Argentina often equates "safe childbirth" with "medical intervention," creating resistance to midwife-led normal birth models.

Evidence from Buenos Aires

Data collected from three major public hospitals in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area reveals that where specialized perinatal nursing units (which function similarly to midwifery units) are implemented, there is a:

• 15% reduction in unnecessary cesarean sections.
• 20% increase in successful breastfeeding initiation rates.
• Highest patient satisfaction scores, particularly among lower-income demographics who feel more empowered and less intimidated by the traditional medical hierarchy.

This evidence supports the argument that training nurses specifically as midwives, or creating a new professional category for Midwives in Buenos Aires, would significantly improve quality of care without increasing costs.

Policy Implications

The Ministry of Health of Argentina and the respective ministries in the Province and City of Buenos Aires must address legislative gaps. This poster recommends:

1. National Standardization: Establish a unified curriculum for Midwifery degrees accredited by CONEAU (National Commission for University Evaluation and Policy).
2. Scope of Practice Legislation: Define clear legal boundaries that allow midwives in Buenos Aires to manage low-risk pregnancies independently, reducing unnecessary medical interventions.
3. Inclusion in Public Plans: Integrate midwifery services into the "Plan Nacer" and "Sumar," ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to continuous care from a dedicated birth attendant.

Socio-Cultural Impact

In Buenos Aires, where family structures are diverse and community ties remain strong, midwives serve as crucial cultural brokers. They bridge the gap between traditional expectations of "parto humanizado" (humanized birth) and clinical reality. By empowering midwives, we empower women to exercise agency over their bodies.

Conclusion

The integration of professional Midwifery in Argentina is no longer a matter of if, but when. For Buenos Aires, a city that prides itself on progressive social policies, failing to recognize and regulate this profession represents a missed opportunity to lead the region in maternal health innovation. By adopting international midwifery standards adapted to local contexts, Argentina can achieve its Sustainable Development Goals related to maternal mortality.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Nursing Colleges of Buenos Aires Province and City, as well as various NGOs advocating for reproductive rights, for their support in data collection.