Thesis (M.A. (Population and Reproductive Health Research))--Mahidol University, 2008.

Reproduction health means ability to become pregnant, bear the full term and give birth to a healthy child. Every woman is responsible for her care for reproduction health. Health is also closely connected with love for family. Family is very important for Romani people as it is a source of power and deep roots and satisfies life necessities of its members. The thesis titled Romani Women and Reproduction Health deals mainly with the issues of reproduction health of Romani women which includes family planning of Romani women, pregnant Romani women, abortion, childbirth, contraception and also climacteric and preventive screening mammography. The issues connected with reproduction health are quite serious as preventive medical examinations are essential for subsequent treatment when a disease is diagnosed. The aim of the thesis was to find out whether or not there is any education in the area of family planning of Romani women; whether or not Romani women plan their parenthood; whether or not family planning is affected by the traditional Romani family pattern; at what age they give their first birth; whether or not Romani women undergo preventive gynaecological examinations; whether or not Romani women are informed about vaccination against uterine suppository cancer; and whether or not Romani women use hormonal substitution therapy during their climacteric. The hypotheses below were defined for these aims. The aim of the first hypothesis was to verify that there is no education in the area of family planning of Romani women. The hypothesis was verified by a questionnaire and its subsequent statistical evaluation. The aim of the second hypothesis was to verify that Romani women plan their pregnancy but this hypothesis was not verified. The aim of the third hypothesis was to verify that family planning of Romani women is affected by the traditional Romani family pattern which was not verified. The aim of the fourth hypothesis was to verify that Romani women give their first birth at the age of 17 or so. This hypothesis was verified by a questionnaire and its subsequent statistical evaluation. The aim of the fifth hypothesis was to verify that Romani women undergo preventive gynaecological examinations. This hypothesis was verified. The aim of the sixth hypothesis was to verify that Romani women are not informed about vaccination against uterine suppository cancer. This hypothesis was not verified. The aim of the seventh hypothesis was to verify that Romani women do not use hormonal replacement therapy during their climacteric. This hypothesis was verified. There were four research questions defined for a qualitative check. The first question concerned the fact how the lower socioeconomic status of Romani families affects the number of children being born. The second research question concerned the most frequent gynaecological diseases occurring of Romani women. The third question concerned the issues connected with pregnancy of Romani women. The fourth question concerned the fact whether or not Romani women let their daughters be vaccinated against uterine suppository cancer. The results of the research questions show that the informants did not have problems to become pregnant; when they had health problems during pregnancy they went to hospital to avoid complications; their lower socioeconomic status does not have any impact on the number of children in Romani families; five informants out of nine did not have any gynaecological problems; all Romani informants are informed about vaccination against uterine suppository cancer; and only three women out of nine would not let their daughters be vaccinated. A combination of quantitative and qualitative checks was used for the practical part of the thesis. A non-standardized interview and a questionnaire were used as the data collection technique. The research group consisted of Romani women of all age categories from České Budějovice.

abstract: Most studies on refugee populations tend to focus on mental health issues and communicable diseases. Yet, reproductive health remains a major aspect of refugee women's health needs. African refugee women in the United States continue to experience some difficulties in accessing reproductive health services despite having health insurance coverage. The purpose of this study was to understand the reproductive health journey of African refugee women resettled in Phoenix, Arizona. This study also explored how African refugee women's pre-migration and post-migration experiences affect their relationships with health care providers. The study was qualitative consisting of field observations at the Refugee Women's Health Clinic (RWHC) in Phoenix, verbally administered demographic questionnaires, and semi-structured one-on-one interviews with twenty African refugee women (between the ages of 18 and 55) and ten health care providers. The findings were divided into three major categories: pre-migration and post migration experiences, reproductive health experiences, and perspectives of health care providers. The themes that emerged from these categories include social isolation, living between two cultures, racial and religious discrimination, language/interpretation issues and lack of continuity of care. Postcolonial feminism, intersectionality, and human rights provided the theoretical frameworks that helped me to analyze the data that emerged from the interviews, questionnaire and fieldnotes. The findings revealed some contrasts from the refugee women's accounts and the accounts of health care providers. While refugee women spoke from their own specific social location leading to more nuanced perspectives, health care providers were more uniform in their responses leading to a rethink of the concept of cultural competency. As I argue in the dissertation and contrary to conventional wisdom, culture per se does not necessarily translate to resistance to the American health care system for many African refugee women. Rather, their utilization (or lack thereof) of health services are better conceived within a broader and complex context that recognizes intersectional factors such as gender, racialization, language, displacement, and class which have a huge impact on the reproductive health seeking patterns of refugee women. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Gender Studies 2011

p. 1-93 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-30T18:22:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 777777777777777.pdf: 1037255 bytes, checksum: 52404d78bbfb2ebb6f70a0c590b5e4be (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva(mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-05-04T17:43:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 777777777777777.pdf: 1037255 bytes, checksum: 52404d78bbfb2ebb6f70a0c590b5e4be (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-04T17:43:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 777777777777777.pdf: 1037255 bytes, checksum: 52404d78bbfb2ebb6f70a0c590b5e4be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Inendócrina feminina na idade reprodutiva, afetando de 4 a 10% das mulheresCaracteriza-se clinicamente porhiperandrogenismo clínico/laboratorial, sendo froobesidade, resistência insulínica, diabetes, dislipidemia e possivelmente, hipertensão e doença cardiovascular. Na literatura brasileira não são encontrados estudos de prevalência da SOP. Na literatura internacional os poucos estudos encontrados utilizaram os critérios diagnósticos do NIH (1990). Recentemente, um estudo utilizando as recomendações elaboradas em Rotterdam (2003) foi publicado e encontrou prevalência menor que a esperada. Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência da SOP entre usuárias da atenção básica de saúde em Salvador-Brasil, baseando-se nos critérios de Rotterdam. Método: Trata-se de estudo transversal com amostra probabilística estratificada, de mulheres de 18-45 anos, que procuraram serviços de detecção de câncer de colo uterino em onze Distritos Sanitários (DS) de 2007. Procedeu-se a seleção randômica de uma unidade por DS, em cada uma das quais foram sorteados turnos de atendimento. Estabeleceu-se o número de mulheres a serem pesquisadas em cada centro de forma proporcional à quantidade desse tipo de atendimento realizada pelo DS no ano anterior. Foram feitas entrevistas com questionário estruturado e medidas do peso, estatura, cintura, pressão arterial e glicemia capilar. Todas as participantes foram inspecionadas quanto à presença de acne e também para a avaliação do hirsutismo usando-se a escala de Ferriman-Gallwey. As mulheres com pelo menos um dos critérios diagnósticos passaram à segunda fase do estudo, que envolveu consulta especializada e retirada de amostras de sangue para diagnóstico diferencial e/ou segundo critério. Aquelas que ainda permaneceram com apenas um critério realizaram US pélvica. Resultados: Entre 894 mulheres elegíveis, 859 (96,1%) foram entrevistadas, sendo a maioria negra (88,5 % de pretas e pardas) e 58,7% com menos de 11 anos de estudo. As prevalências de oligo/amenorreia, hirsutismo e acne moderada/severa foram de 12,6%, 12,9% e 2,5%, respectivamente. Preencheram completamente os requisitos para o diagnóstico da prevalência estimada de 8,5% (IC: 6,80 - 10,56). Das 859 mulheres participantes do estudo 84,4% foram consideradas não portadoras da SOP. Aquelas que tinham um critério apenas e que não compareceram ou não completaram a avaliação da segunda fase foram consideradas como "SOP indeterminada" (7,1%). Quando comparados, esses grupos não diferiram significativamente quanto ao peso, índice de massa corpórea, cintura, glicemia capilar casual ou pressão arterial. As mulheres com SOP são mais jovens (p = 0,00) mais altas (p = 0,04) têm menos filhos (p = 0,00) mais anos 29 de estudo (p = 0,01), têm testosterona total e relação LH/FSH mais elevadas (p = 0,01 e p = 0,01, respectivamente). Conclusão: A SOP é um problema de saúde relevante em Salvador. Conhecer esta realidade possibilita a elaboração de protocolos para prover atenção adequada às mulheres e prevenir ocorrência de comorbidades. / Salvador

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-22T13:14:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Angelica Vonk.pdf: 7038536 bytes, checksum: 3dde7a6204bdd86dd1cbf1c73a165538 (MD5) license.txt: 1914 bytes, checksum: 7d48279ffeed55da8dfe2f8e81f3b81f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Ensino. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e da Mulher. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / Este estudo analisou as experiências de adolescentes escolares do Município de Silva Jardim, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no que se refere à vida afetivo-sexual, à reprodução e aos cuidados com a saúde sexual e reprodutiva. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 200 escolares de ambos os sexos, de quatro escolas públicas, com idades de 15 a 19 anos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário estruturado, que continha questões sociodemográficas e familiares, além de perguntas sobre a vida afetiva, o início da vida sexual, as práticas contraceptivas, as experiências reprodutivas, os conhecimentos e cuidados com a saúde sexual e reprodutiva. A análise estatística foi realizada através do teste de qui-quadrado (X²), tendo sido aplicada a correção de Yates, quando necessário. O nível de significância do estudo foi de 5%. Utilizou-se o programa de Epi-info 3.58 para entrada e análise dos dados. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 16,6 anos para o total da amostra. A escolarização das meninas foi maior que a dos meninos (p= 0,008). A maioria dos adolescentes vivia com os pais. Os homens adolescentes possuíam mais atividades remuneradas (p=0,0003). Cerca de um quarto das meninas e um terço dos homens tiveram experiência sexual, sendo que, para elas, a primeira relação sexual ocorreu entre 15 e 19 anos; para eles, entre 12 a 14 anos (p=0,014). A maioria dos homens iniciou-se sexualmente com parceiros de 12 a 19 anos e em relações fugazes, enquanto as mulheres tiveram a primeira experiência sexual com parceiros mais velhos (p<0,0001) e namorados (p=0,006). As meninas receberam mais informações do que os meninos sobre relações sexuais (p=0,029) e como evitar gravidez (p= 0,001) antes da primeira relação sexual. Além disso, elas é que mais conversaram com parceiros na ocasião da iniciação sexual (p= 0,015) e também são elas que mais conversam atualmente (p=0,002) sobre prevenção de gravidez. Mais de 80% dos jovens disseram ter usado métodos anticoncepcionais na primeira relação sexual, e 90% fazem contracepção atualmente. As fontes de informações sobre sexualidade, gravidez e contracepção foram principalmente os pais. A farmácia foi o principal local de aquisição dos métodos contraceptivos, para os dois grupos.). As informações sobre doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST) provêm principalmente da escola. O HIV/AIDS, a DST mais conhecida (88,5%), e o conhecimento do preservativo como meio para evitá-la foi praticamente universal (95,5%). Conclusão: Ao compararmos os resultados deste estudo, realizado com escolares de Silva Jardim, com aqueles de outras pesquisas, realizados com escolares de grandes centros urbanos ou com populações que incluem jovens fora da escola, vemos aproximações e distanciamentos entre suas experiências que não podem ser explicados linearmente. Para uma compreensão abrangente dessas experiências e do que elas têm de singularidade, e seus aspectos mais generalizáveis, é necessário observar como se articulam fatores relacionados ao contexto sociocultural e institucional de pequenos municípios, questões de gênero e o diferencial da escolaridade. / This study examined the experiences of adolescent students in the Municipality of Silva Jardim, State of Rio de Janeiro, in relation to affective and sexual life, reproduction and care for the sexual and reproductive health. Method: This is a cross-sectional study among 200 schoolchildren of both sexes in the age of 15 to 19 years from four public schools. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that contained socio demographic questions, questions about their family and affective life, the start of their sexual activity, their contraceptive practices, their reproductive experiences and finally questions about their knowledge and care with sexual and reproductive health. Statistical analysis was performed using the chisquare (X ²), with Yates correction applied if necessary. The level of significance of the study was 5%. We used the program Epi-info 3.58 for data entry and data analysis. Results: The mean age of the total sample was 16.6 years. The school attendance rate of girls was higher than that of boys (p = 0.008). The majority of adolescents lived with their parents. Adolescent boys had more economic activities (p = 0.0003). About a quarter of girls and a third of the boys had sexual experience. The girls had their first sexual experience between 15 and 19 years whereas the boys had theirs between 12 to 14 years (p = 0.014). Most boys began sexual relations with partners from 12 to 19 years that were not their girlfriend (one night stands), while the girls had their first sexual experience with older partners (p <0.0001) and with their boyfriends (p = 0.006). The girls received more information about sex than boys (p = 0.029) and how to avoid pregnancy (p = 0.001), before their first sexual intercourse. Moreover girls discuss more with partners at the time of sexual initiation (p = 0.015) and continue to discuss more about pregnancy prevention (p = 0.002). Over 80% of the adolescents said they had used contraceptives at first intercourse and currently 90% uses contraceptives. For both boys and girls parents were the principal source of information about sexuality, pregnancy and contraception and contraceptive methods were principally purchased in the pharmacy. Information about sexually transmitted diseases (STD) stems mainly from the school. HIV / AIDS is the best known STD (88.5%) and knowledge of condoms as a way to avoid it was nearly universal (95.5%). Conclusion: When comparing the results of this study with students from Silva Jardim to those of other studies with students from large urban areas or samples that include youth school dropouts, we see similarities and differences between their experiences that can not be explained linearly. For a comprehensive understanding of these experiences – what aspects are particular and what aspects can be more generalized – it is necessary to observe how these aspects are related to socio cultural and institutional small towns, and the gender gap in schooling.

abstract: Nearly seven decades ago, the US government established grants to the states for family planning and acknowledged the importance of enabling all women to plan and space their pregnancies, regardless of personal income. Since then, publicly-funded family planning services have empowered millions of women, men, and adolescents to achieve their childbearing goals. Despite the recognized importance of subsidized family planning, services remain funded in a piecemeal fashion. Since the 1940s there have been numerous federal funding sources for family planning, including the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Program, Office of Economic Opportunity grants, Title XX Social Services Program, Title X Family Planning Program, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, alongside state and local support. Spending guidelines allow states varying degrees of flexibility regarding allocation, to best serve the local population. With nearly two billion dollars spent annually on subsidized family planning, criticism often arises surrounding effective local program spending and state politics influencing grant allocation. Political tension regarding the amount of control states should have in managing federal funding is exacerbated in the context of family planning, which has become increasingly controversial among social conservatives in the twenty-first century. This thesis examines how Arizona’s political, geographic, cultural, and ethnic landscape shaped the state management of federal family planning funding since the early twentieth century. Using an extensive literature review, archival research, and oral history interviews, this thesis demonstrates the unique way Arizona state agencies and nonprofits collaborated to maximize the use of federal family planning grants, effectively reaching the most residents possible. That partnership allowed Arizona providers to reduce geographic barriers to family planning in a rural, frontier state. The social and political history surrounding the use of federal family planning funds in Arizona demonstrates the important role states have in efficient, effective, and equitable state implementation of national resources in successfully reaching local populations. The contextualization of government funding of family planning provides insight into recent attempts to defund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood, cut the Title X Family Planning Program, and restructure Medicaid in the twenty-first century. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2018

Women's health, particularly, sexual and reproductive health, and development are here approached from a gender and human rights perspective, underlying the need to address these problems from a relational and comprehensive point of view. The issue of how sexual and reproductive health is approached and the "men's as partners" strategy is discussed. Adult women-centered, female-only family planning reproduction and contraception are criticized. Gender violence eradication is stressed as an entry to sexual and reproductive health programs. The case of Peruvian urban and rural women in poverty from Amazonian and Andean communities is taken as an example. Obstacles and achievements in working with men are reviewed but a gender transversal perspective is highlighted. Finally, women's sexual and reproductive health is related to development and seen as a standpoint for addressing health. / Se discute como se tratan los problemas de la salud sexual y reproductiva y el desarrollo de la mujer desde una perspectiva transversal de género y de derechos, subrayando la necesidad de trabajarlos desde una perspectiva integral. Se critican los programas y servicios centrados en la mujer adulta, en la reproducción y en la planificación familiar femenina. Asimismo, se señala la necesidad de trabajar en la erradicación de la violencia de género como una entrada para el trabajo en este ámbito. Como ejemplo, se presenta el caso de la salud sexual y reproductiva en comunidades andinas y amazónicas rurales y en extrema pobreza del Perú. Las dificultades y logros en el trabajo con hombres son analizados, subrayándose la necesidad de una perspectiva transversal de género en el trabajo. Finalmente, se relaciona la salud de la mujer con desarrollo y se concluye en la necesidad de trabajar siempre en este sentido.

Depuis les années 2000, le secteur de la santé de la reproduction, longtemps délaissé par le gouvernement indien, semble constituer un sujet d’inquiétude, notamment dans le nord du pays. Les taux de mortalité encore élevés discréditent l’image de superpuissance que l’État indien aime afficher, le déséquilibre du sex-ratio continue de se creuser en dépit des mesures législatives en vigueur et, malgré une importante baisse du taux de fécondité, le pays doit faire face à une population de plus d’un milliard deux cent millions d’habitants. À partir d’un terrain ethnographique d’un an et demi dans un hôpital public et dans des bidonvilles de Jaipur où une ONG œuvrait pour l’institutionnalisation de la santé maternelle, cette étude analyse les réactions des femmes et de leur famille face aux techniques persuasives et au pouvoir discrétionnaire que le personnel hospitalier et les membres de l’ONG utilisent à leur égard. Elle montre également en quoi les programmes de santé, censés garantir l’accès aux soins, tendent paradoxalement à rendre les bénéficiaires les plus vulnérables davantage conscients des inégalités socio-économiques dans leur vie quotidienne et renforcent les stéréotypes existants. À travers l’expérience des femmes, la santé de la reproduction apparaît comme un domaine sensible où des tensions sociales (castes, classes) et religieuses s’expriment et se cristallisent. La prise en charge de la santé de la reproduction ne se réduit pas à la santé materno-infantile mais englobe les questions de discrimination à l’égard des petites filles, du faible pouvoir décisionnel des femmes et du recours limité à la contraception, enjeux cruciaux qui attisent les différences au sein de la société indienne, sous couvert de progrès et au nom de l’intérêt de la nation. / Since the 2000s, the Indian government’s long-neglected reproductive health sector has been a subject of growing concern, especially in the northern part of the country. Mortality rates remain high, calling India’s superpower image into question; the sex ratio imbalance keeps growing despite legislative measures to correct it; and, despite a significant dip in the fertility rate, the country now has a population of over one-billion-two-hundred-million inhabitants. Drawing on one-and-a-half years of ethnographic fieldwork in a public hospital and several slums in Jaipur, this study analyses the reactions of women and their families to the techniques of persuasion and decision-making power used by hospital staff and NGO workers who institutionalise maternal health. The study also shows how health programmes meant to secure universal access to care paradoxically reinforce existing stereotypes and tend to make vulnerable patients even more aware of socioeconomic inequalities in their daily lives. Through the lens of women’s experiences, reproductive health appears to be a sensitive node where religious and social tensions of caste and class get expressed and crystallised. Thus, reproductive health is not confined to maternal and child healthcare; it includes core issues of discrimination toward young girls, the limited decision-making power of women, and ambivalence about contraception among women. While often presented in the guise of progress and the national interest, the institutionalisation of reproductive health actually maintains social disparities within Indian society

Introdução: A anticoncepção de emergência é um método contraceptivo usado após a relação sexual desprotegida. Apesar da sua alta eficácia e de estar disponível gratuitamente na rede pública de saúde, ainda é subutilizada. Objetivo: Identificar as razões e analisar os determinantes do não uso da anticoncepção de emergência quando indicada. Método: Estudo quantitativo, do tipo transversal, realizado com amostra probabilística de mulheres grávidas usuárias de 12 Unidades Básicas de Saúde da Supervisão Técnica de Saúde do Butantã, São Paulo (n=515), entre março e junho de 2013. O não uso da anticoncepção de emergência quando indicada foi considerado quando as mulheres eram classificadas como tendo gravidez não planejada ou ambivalente segundo o London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (n=366). No Stata 12.0, os dados foram analisados por meio de regressão logística multinomial. O grupo de mulheres que usou a anticoncepção de emergência para prevenir a gravidez em curso foi comparado com dois grupos: o de mulheres que estava usando algum método contraceptivo, mas não anticoncepção de emergência no mês em que ficou grávida, e o grupo de mulheres que não usou métodos contraceptivos nem anticoncepção de emergência nesse período. Resultados: Apesar da maioria conhecer a anticoncepção de emergência (96,7%), apenas 9,8% a usou para prevenir a gravidez em curso. A principal razão para o não uso foi pensar que não iria engravidar (47,6%). Outras razões, como querer engravidar/ter um filho no futuro e não pensar ou não se lembrar do método também foram amplamente referidas pelas mulheres. Os determinantes do não uso da anticoncepção de emergência para as mulheres que usavam métodos contraceptivos foram a não consciência do risco de engravidar [OR=3,44; IC95%: 1,48-8,03] e morar com o parceiro [OR=3,23; IC95%: 1,43-7,28]. Para aquelas que não usavam métodos contraceptivos, morar com o parceiro [OR= 3,19; IC95%: 1,40-7,27], gravidez ambivalente [OR: 3,40; IC95%: 1,56-8,54] e o não uso prévio do método [OR=3,52; IC95%: 1,38-8,97] foram associados ao não uso da anticoncepção de emergência. Conclusões: Viver com um parceiro pode fazer com que a mulher se sinta menos preocupada em evitar uma gravidez, ou seja, menos propensa a usar a anticoncepção de emergência. De toda forma, reconhecer as situações em que corre o risco de engravidar, saber por experiência própria como obter e usar o método e ter claras intenções reprodutivas podem aumentar o uso da anticoncepção de emergência quanto indicada / Introduction: Emergency contraception is a contraceptive method to be used after unprotected intercourse. Despite its high efficacy, availability both at primary health care and private pharmacies in Brazil, it is still underutilized. Objective: To identify the reasons and analyze the determinants of emergency contraception non-use when indicated. Method: Cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted with a probabilistic sample of pregnant women from 12 Primary Health Facilities at the Health Supervision of Butantã, São Paulo, Brazil (n=515), from March to June 2013. We considered an emergency contraception non-use when indicated women who were either in an unplanned or ambivalent pregnancy according to the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (n=366). In Stata 12.0, we used multinomial logistic regression to analyze the data. Women who used the method to prevent the current pregnancy were the reference and were compared to two groups of women: those who did not use emergency contraception, but used another method; and those who used no method at all. Results: Although there was a high proportion of emergency contraception awareness (96.7%), only 9.8 % used it to prevent the current pregnancy. The main reason for non-use was believing that she would not become pregnant (47.6%); but wanting to become pregnant in the future and not remembering to use the method were also largely reported. Associated aspects to emergency contraception non-use among women who used a method were not being aware of pregnancy risk [OR=3,44; IC95%: 1,48-8,03] and cohabitation with a partner [OR=3,23; IC95%: 1,43-7,28]. Among women that did not use any contraception, cohabitation with a partner [OR= 3,19; IC95%: 1,40-7,27], ambivalent pregnancy [OR: 3,40; IC95%: 1,56-8,54] and no previous use of emergency contraception [OR=3,52; IC95%: 1,38-8,97] were associated with the method non-use. Conclusions: Living with a partner can make a woman feel less concerned about preventing a pregnancy, which means, less likely to use emergency contraception. Eventually, having skills to recognize pregnancy risk situations, having experience on how to use and when to obtain the pill and a clear pregnancy intention can increase the use of emergency contraception when indicated

O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender o significado da experiência de near miss no período gravídico-puerperal na vida de mulheres sobreviventes. O referencial teórico baseou-se em conceitos da Antropologia médica e o metodológico, na história oral. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida com mulheres residentes na microrregião do Noroeste paulista, tendo como referência o município de Fernandópolis. Participaram 13 mulheres egressas da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva de um hospital geral do município, no período de 2003 e 2005. As entrevistas foram apresentadas na forma de narrativa. Os depoimentos mostraram que a experiência de vivenciar uma complicação com risco de morte foi marcante, desagradável, evidenciando sofrimento, sentimentos de medo e preocupação. As mulheres perceberam que “algo está errado”, procuraram os serviços de saúde e avaliaram a assistência recebida. As maiores preocupações foram com o filho, o marido e familiares. Os achados do estudo permitiram obter uma visão compreensiva da experiência de mulheres que vivenciaram e sobreviveram ao risco de morte materna e as mudanças que ocorreram em suas vidas e formas de enfrentamento e superação das dificuldades verificados. / The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of the near miss experience during pregnancy, labor, birth and puerperium in the life of the women who survived. The conceptions of Medical Anthropology were used as the theoretical framework for the analysis and the Oral History as the methodological reference. The research was developed including women who live in a micro-region of the northwest of São Paulo state and Fernadópolis district. Thirteen women who returned from the intensive care unit of a municipal general hospital, from 2003 to 2005, participated in this study. The interviews were presented as narratives. The data showed that the experience of a severe complication with risk of death was remarkable, unpleasant, evidencing feelings of suffer, fear and worry. The women noticed that “something is wrong”, then they looked for a health service unit and evaluated the assistance given. The main women’s worry was related to the child, the husband and the family. The findings of this study permitted to have a comprehensive vision of the experience of the women who faced the risk of maternal death and survived, as well as the changes in their lives and the ways of coping and overcoming the difficulties found.