Birthrights - The Mountain Midwives of Vietnam

Summary

In the rural far north of Vietnam, a battle between modernity and tradition unfolds, with high maternal mortality rates due to home births. Ying, a 20-year-old from the Mong ethnic group, graduates from a program aimed at improving maternal and infant health. She faces the challenge of overcoming cultural traditions, politics, remoteness, and poverty to convince women to give birth at health centers. Ying navigates the delicate balance between respecting her culture and promoting modern healthcare, helping to reduce maternal deaths in her community.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The script discusses a battle between modernity and tradition in a mountainous region with high maternal mortality rates.
• 🎓 20-year-old Ying, from the Mong ethnic group, is a recent graduate of a program aimed at improving maternal and infant health.
• 🚑 Ying faces challenges such as cultural traditions, politics, remoteness, and poverty in her work as a midwife.
• 🏠 Ying's home, Chica Commune, has a basic health center serving 22,000 locals, but most women prefer traditional home births.
• 🤰 Ethnic minority women, particularly those under 18, are at a higher risk of death during childbirth in the Mong society.
• 🌱 Traditions and rituals are significant reasons why women prefer home births, making it difficult for Ying to promote health center births.
• 🛣️ The journey to the health center involves a 7 km trek and potential dangers, including the risk of kidnapping by human traffickers.
• 🏥 There is a history of tension between the Mong community and the Vietnamese state, affecting trust in government-run health centers.
• 🌐 Ying acts as a translator to ease the tension between Mong women and Vietnamese health workers.
• 👶 Despite the risks, Ying helps deliver a baby safely at the Chica Health Center, but the mother faces complications.
• 🌟 Ying's efforts contribute to a reduction in maternal deaths and she continues to navigate the balance between tradition and modern healthcare.

Q & A

What is the primary conflict depicted in the script?

The script depicts a conflict between modernity and tradition, particularly in the context of maternal and infant health practices in a rural area.

What is the maternal mortality rate in the region mentioned in the script?

The maternal mortality rate in the region is up to 10 times higher than other parts of the country.

Who is Ying and what is her role in the community?

Ying is a 20-year-old from the Mong ethnic group and a recent graduate from a program targeting maternal and infant health. She works as a midwife and aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.

What obstacles does Ying face in her work as a midwife?

Ying faces obstacles such as cultural tradition, politics, remoteness, and poverty in her efforts to improve maternal and infant health.

Why do many women in the Mong community prefer home births?

Many women in the Mong community prefer home births because they can perform an important and ancient ritual, which is deeply rooted in their cultural practices.

What is the significance of the Chica Health Center in the script?

The Chica Health Center is the only place to get medical attention for the 22,000 locals in Chica commune, as the District Hospital is a 3-hour drive away.

What is the impact of home births on newborn mortality rates in the rural mountains?

Newborns in the rural mountains are 50% more likely to die if born at home compared to those born in the city.

What is the historical context that contributes to the tension between the Mong community and the Vietnamese State?

A communist policy of assimilation in the 1970s and 80s has left a mark on the Mong community, leading to a distrust of the government and tension with Vietnamese health workers.

What role does Ying play in bridging the gap between the Mong women and Vietnamese health workers?

Ying acts as a translator and mediator between the Mong women and Vietnamese health workers, easing the tension and helping to facilitate better healthcare practices.

What challenges does Ying face in convincing women like Sa to give birth at the health center?

Ying must convince women to overcome their fear of the government-run health center while respecting the traditional values of their own culture.

What is the significance of the journey to the Chica Health Center for Pang and Sa?

The journey to the Chica Health Center is significant as it represents a break from centuries of cultural practice and a step towards modern healthcare, despite the risks and challenges involved.