Midwives in Nova Esperança do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: report on their knowledge and practices

Abstract

Context: The present report aims to understand a little more about midwives and their craft and their traditions, beliefs, practices and customs, as these are of fundamental importance for women, at a time when medical resources were almost non-existent. . Method: The qualitative research was carried out through interviews in the municipality of Nova Esperança do Sul (NES), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The midwifery profession marked territoriality and helped to forge the identity of NES, having this historical character as one of the main ways of recognizing the social role of women in the place in that period. Results: Thinking about the midwives' profession, in the light of Cultural Geography, makes us understand how they can contribute to the organization of space, as well as emphasizes that meeting local historical characters, who left great legacies and made a difference in the lives of countless women and families, is an act of appreciation and recognition.