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‘Pregnancy in the shadow of Covid 19 – An ethnographic study’ (as part of EU Border Care project)

Institution

European University Institute

Country

Italy (and currently expanding to incorporate other countries around the Mediterranean)

Localities

All regions of Italy, from Piemonte to Sicily

Type of Study

Medical Anthropology/Social Science/Maternal Health

Methodology

Ethnographic and participatory research, using audio-visual resources (based on virtual tools)

Key Focus of Study

This small ethnographic project aims to document and analyse pregnancy and childbirth in the shadow of Covid 19 from the point of view of expecting parents and maternity care staff operating in hospitals and smaller birthing structures in Central and Southern Europe, starting with Italy (and aiming to incorporate France, Greece and southern Mediterranean countries). As countries affected by the current epidemic emergency have radically repurposed healthcare facilities and reallocated time, staff and resources to Covid 19 patients, pregnancy and childbirth represent two of the few healthcare sectors which cannot be delayed or cancelled. How are healthcare services dealing with maternity care in hospital wards and smaller infrastructures? What changes have been introduced and what are their implications on the experience of pregnancy and childbirth for pregnant women and their partners and relatives? How is the body of the expecting mother monitored and managed, are new technological tools introduced, do they lead to a further medicalisation of pregnancy and childbirth or rather to a revival of midwifery-led centres away from hospitals? How are hospitals perceived in terms of risk? What does the domestic space represent for confined pregnancies? We are conducting this study in countries which have a strong tradition of hospital births and few birthing centres, and where internal social inequalities and geographical disparities reveal significant shifts in hospital cultures and family traditions. Our study is anthropological, but we aim to engage with health policy and reproductive health rights.

Key Stakeholders

We are working with expecting couples, healthcare practitioners and activists, including midwives and social workers. At this early stage we are focusing on pregnant patients and their partners.

Sample size

20 case studies

Timeframe

Ongoing (started 20th March 2020); end date June 2020

Date data expected

15 April for first results

Status

Ongoing

More information contact

Vanessa.Grotti@EUI.eu