Prenatal care for indigenous pregnant women: cultural barriers and nursing strategies for promoting maternal health.

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69849/k24jcz14

Keywords:

Indigenous Health, Prenatal Care, Nursing, Maternal Health, Intercultural Care

Abstract

Objective: To analyze, through an integrative literature review, the cultural barriers that influence prenatal care for indigenous pregnant women and nursing strategies aimed at promoting maternal health, with an emphasis on intercultural care. Method: This is an integrative, descriptive review conducted through a search in the SciELO, LILACS, and BDENF databases. Articles published between 2021 and 2025, available in full text, in Portuguese, that addressed cultural barriers in prenatal care for indigenous pregnant women and/or nursing strategies in this context were included. Abstracts, dissertations, theses, duplicates, and studies that did not meet the thematic and temporal criteria were excluded. Data analysis was conducted using Bardin's content analysis technique. Results: 285 studies were identified, of which 161 were excluded because they were abstracts, dissertations, and theses, 65 because they did not meet the time frame, and 49 due to duplication, resulting in a final sample of 10 articles. The findings show that cultural barriers, associated with geographical, socioeconomic, and structural factors, compromise access, adherence, and quality of prenatal care. Communication difficulties, a disconnect between traditional and biomedical knowledge, and weaknesses in the organization of health services stand out. Conclusion: Cultural aspects play a central role in the gestational experience of indigenous women, influencing practices and decisions related to care. The disconnect between the biomedical model and traditional knowledge is one of the main challenges to the effectiveness of prenatal care, highlighting the need to incorporate interculturality as a structuring axis of care practices. The strategic role of nursing in mediating between different care systems, promoting humanized practices, and strengthening the bond and adherence to prenatal care is highlighted.

References

ALENCAR, L. K. da S.; ARAÚJO, M. R. Saúde da mulher indígena: assistência pré-natal. Revista Contemporânea, [S. l.], v. 4, n. 5, p. e4261, 2024. DOI: 10.56083/RCV4N5-054. Disponível em: https://ojs.revistacontemporanea.com/ojs/index.php/home/article/view/4261. Acesso em: 27 mar. 2026.

ABREU, G. R., et al. Adequação da assistência pré-natal ofertada à mulher indígena no estado de Mato Grosso do Sul: características maternas e dos serviços de saúde. Cien Saude Colet (2024/jun). [Citado em 29/03/2026]. Está disponível em: http://cienciaesaudecoletiva.com.br/artigos/adequacao-da-assistencia-prenatal-ofertada-a-mulher-indigena-no-estado-de-mato-grosso-do-sul-caracteristicas-maternas-e-dos-servicos-de-saude/19298?id=19298

ABRITTA, M. L. R; TORRES, S. R.; FREITA, D. A.. Saúde das mulheres indígenas na América Latina: Revisão Integrativa. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Funcional, [S. l.], v. 9, n. 2, p. 164–177, 2021. Disponível em: https://adventista.emnuvens.com.br/RBSF/article/view/1449.

BRASIL. Ministério da saúde. Saúde indígena: Análise da situação de saúde no SasiSUS. Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, 2019, 83p.

DE OLIVEIRA R., et al. O pré-natal na Amazônia: desafios e estratégias na prevenção da mortalidade materna e neonatal em contextos de vulnerabilidade social. INTERFERENCE: A JOURNAL OF AUDIO CULTURE, [S. l.], v. 11, n. 2, p. 37835–3848, 2025. DOI: 10.36557/2009-3578.2025v11n2p37835-3848. Disponível em: https://interferencejournal.emnuvens.com.br/revista/article/view/292. Acesso em: 27 mar. 2026.

GOES, E. F.; et al. Desigualdades raciais nas tendências da maternidade adolescente e no acesso ao pré-natal no Brasil, 2008- 2019. Research, Society and Development, v. 12, n. 1, p. e8312139404, 2023. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v12i1.39404

KAMINSKI, L. S..; et al. Practices of indigenous women through their gestational, prenatal, childbirth and postpartum process. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 11, n. 10, p. e541111032200, 2022. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/32200.

MARTIN, M. A.; GURVEN, M. Traditional and biomedical maternal and neonatal care practices in a rural indigenous population of the Bolivian Amazon. Global public health, v. 17, n. 6, p. 971-985, 2022

MENDES, K. D. S., et al. (2020). Uso do gerente de referência bibliográfica na seleção de estudos primários em revisões integrativas. Texto & Contexto – Enfermagem, 28, e20170204. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-265x-tce-2017-0204

MONTEIRO M. A. C, et al. Nursing care for the health of indigenous populations: scoping review. Cogitare Enferm. [Internet]. 2023 [cited in “insert year, month and day”]; 28. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/ce.v28i0.91074.

PANDEY, M. et al. Indigenous birth support worker (IBSW) program evaluation: a qualitative analysis of program workers and clients’ perspectives. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, v. 23, n. 1, p. 367, 2023.

PÍCOLI, R. P.; CAZOLA, L. H. de O. Oportunidades perdidas na prevenção da transmissão vertical da sífilis na população indígena do Brasil central. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, v. 22, p. 823-831, 2023.

SANTOS, J. V. N. C. et al. Attributions and difficulties presented by nurses in relation to nursing care for the indigenous population. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 11, n. 4, p. e2511426834, 2023. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/26834.

SILVA, E. C.; et al. Dificuldades vivenciadas pelos profissionais de saúde no atendimento à população indígena. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde, v. 13, n. 1, p. e5413, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25248/reas.e5413.2021.

SOUSA, L. D. C. et al. Ensino e saúde indígena: práticas de autoatenção na gestação. Ensino, Saúde e Ambiente, v. 15, n. 1, p. 1–17, 25 jul. 2022.

ROCHA, E. S. C, et al. Aprendizagem e ensino na monitoria com PBL em enfermagem. REVISA. 2025; 15(1): 134-45. Doi: https://doi.org/10.36239/revisa.v15.n1.p134a145

Published

2026-04-16

How to Cite

Ramos, C. S. ., Silva, D. D. da ., Rocha, N. F. ., Pantoja, C. C. ., Reis, H. C. G. ., Silva, M. R. S. da ., Gutierre, R. G. ., Bailão, R. O. ., Barros, R. L. M. ., Barros, B. T. D. ., Santos, I. A. S. dos ., & Oliveira, H. C. V. de . (2026). Prenatal care for indigenous pregnant women: cultural barriers and nursing strategies for promoting maternal health. Revista Ft, 30(157), 01-17. https://doi.org/10.69849/k24jcz14