Indigenous Midwifery, Cultural Safety, and the Decolonization of Maternal Healthcare

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 10, October 2026 | pp. 85–98

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001321

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Indigenous Midwifery, Cultural Safety, and the Decolonization of Maternal Healthcare

Names of Author: Halima Toure¹, Valeria Quispe², & Sarah Henderson³

Author's Affiliation: ¹Department of Anthropology, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali; ²Faculty of Health Sciences, Mayor de San Andrés University, La Paz, Bolivia; ³School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Abstract:
Global maternal health policies have historically marginalized traditional birth attendants and Indigenous midwives, framing ancestral birthing practices as unscientific obstacles to biomedical modernization. Yet in rural and Indigenous communities where state hospitals are geographically distant or culturally alienating, traditional midwives remain trusted providers of holistic prenatal, birthing, and postpartum care. Prohibitive policies that criminalize traditional midwifery without providing culturally respectful clinical alternatives often deepen maternal health inequities. This paper explores collaborative models integrating Indigenous midwifery knowledge with public obstetric services in Mali, Bolivia, and Canada. Anchored in decolonial feminist health frameworks and cultural safety theory, the study synthesizes participatory dialogues with 42 traditional midwives, biomedical obstetricians, and mothers. We argue that equitable maternal care depends on mutual epistemic respect, legal recognition of Indigenous birth workers, and community-governed birthing centers.

Keywords: Indigenous midwifery, decolonizing healthcare, cultural safety, maternal health, traditional birth attendants, reproductive justice, Mali, Bolivia

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 18, 2026; Revised: September 18, 2026; Accepted: September 22, 2026; Published: October 15, 2026.

Citation: Toure, H., Quispe, V., & Henderson, S. (2026). Indigenous Midwifery, Cultural Safety, and the Decolonization of Maternal Healthcare. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(10), 85–98. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001321

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