Poster De Conférence Année : 2026

The evolution of midwifery in Iran: From childbirth guardians to aesthetic assistants

Résumé

Background Midwives in Iran have undergone significant professional transformations over the past century. Historically, Iranian midwives known as qâbeleh were respected for their skills in home births, abortion care with herbal methods, and guidance in culturally significant spaces like women’s bathhouses. With the advent of modern medicine and the medicalization of childbirth, their roles have been profoundly altered. Objectives This PhD study in socio-anthropology explores the evolving role of Iranian midwives, focusing on socio-cultural and regulatory shifts over the last 40 years following the Islamic Revolution. Methods Ethnographic research was conducted from 2017 to 2022 in Yazd, 600 kilometers from Tehran. Fieldwork was carried out in a public maternity ward, a private clinic, and a midwife’s private office. The study included participant observation and formal and informal interviews with midwives, gynecologists, and educators from midwifery schools in Yazd and Tehran. Results Midwives in Iran face increasing professional dissatisfaction, prompting some to leave the field. Key factors include low salaries, high rates of cesarean sections due to healthcare privatization, and the economic interests of gynecologists—resulting in one of the world’s highest cesarean rates. Home births are now prohibited, and midwives’ medical autonomy is increasingly limited. In response, some midwives have turned to aesthetic services, such as Botox injections and assisting plastic surgeons, reflecting a broader commodification of medicine and beauty in Iranian society. Conclusions The role of midwives in Iran is being reshaped by political, economic, and cultural forces. Traditional practices are increasingly marginalized, while new, market-oriented roles are emerging, revealing tensions between professional identity, medical regulation, and societal change.

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Dates et versions

hal-05582228 , version 1 (07-04-2026)

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  • HAL Id : hal-05582228 , version 1

Citer

Rosanna Sestito. The evolution of midwifery in Iran: From childbirth guardians to aesthetic assistants. One Million More Midwives, Jun 2026, Lisbon (Portugal), Portugal. ⟨hal-05582228⟩
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