Medicalization of childbirth and birth rate decline

TitleMedicalization of childbirth and birth rate decline
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsInguaggiato M, Ravazzolo G, Tessarolo M
JournalInterdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies
Volume16
Issue1
Pagination77-92
Date Published06/2011
PublisherPadova University Press
Place PublishedPadova, IT
ISSN Number2282-2011
Keywordsbirth rate decline, medicalization, motherhood, pregnancy
Abstract

According to the demographist Volpi (2007), the Italian family is undergoing a profound crisis, and it’s statistically approaching what seems to be an announced end. Among the current changes in the “traditional” concept of family, he examined the causes of a clear decline in birth rates, mostly due to a “medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth”. With reference to a previous work by Ravazzolo and Tessarolo (2009), this study intends to verify weather there is an actual relationship between medicalization and feelings of heartlessness in others. We administered a questionnaire to 168 young Italian mothers. Results confirmed findings from previous research by the same authors and in an opposite direction from Volpi’s showing that medicalization offer greater serenity to new mothers.

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