Interventions to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Indigenous Populations of Ecuador: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i3.1036Keywords:
Reduction, maternal mortality, Indigenous populations, Ecuador.Abstract
Maternal mortality among Indigenous populations in Ecuador remains a significant public health challenge associated with social inequalities, cultural barriers, and limited access to timely, high-quality healthcare services, among other factors. In this context, the aim of this study was to analyze interventions implemented to reduce maternal mortality among Indigenous women in Ecuador through a scoping review.
A descriptive study with a qualitative approach was conducted using a scoping review design in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The study corpus consisted of scientific articles indexed in databases including PubMed and Scopus. A total of 10 articles were included after a comprehensive screening and selection process.
The findings showed that intercultural interventions, such as respectful maternity care and the integration of ancestral practices into maternal healthcare, were the most effective in reducing maternal mortality by improving both access to and acceptance of healthcare services. In addition, educational strategies and health system strengthening initiatives were found to contribute to improvements in maternal healthcare indicators.
It was concluded that reducing maternal mortality among Indigenous populations requires the implementation of comprehensive interventions that integrate an intercultural approach with health system strengthening in order to reduce disparities in healthcare access and improve maternal health outcomes.
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