How a marriage of traditional and modern midwifery is transforming lives in rural Mexico

The following story was produced for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions as part of the International Council of Nurses’ digital series, Caring with Courage, to celebrate the extraordinary stories of nurses around the world and their contribution to the health sector. It is available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

“In the mountainous regions of southern Mexico, Indigenous communities have for generations turned to traditional midwives to bring new lives into the world. These skilled herbalists, masseurs and healers rely on techniques and knowledge passed down and refined over many years. With the arrival of modern medicine in the 20th century, these ancient female-led practices were sidelined. But, in recent years, Indigenous midwifery advocacy groups have been working alongside NGOs to generate a new wave of recognition for traditional birth attendants, marrying their rich folk heritage with the insights of Western obstetrics to keep mothers and babies safe and put them at ease.”

To read more in English, visit BBC StoryWorks.