Dados epidemiológicos têm demonstrado crescente envolvimento da mulher idosa na epidemia de aids, esta constatação foi a motivação para a realização do presente estudo. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, que teve como referencial teórico a Antropologia Médica; para o tratamento dos dados adotou-se o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Os objetivos do estudo foram: verificar a percepção sobre a epidemia de aids por mulheres com idade igual ou superior a 50 anos, moradoras em uma comunidade de baixa renda no Município de São Paulo; verificar sua percepção de risco à infecção pelo HIV, e se adotam ações preventivas da infecção. Como critérios de inclusão consideraram-se: mulheres com idade igual ou superior a 50 anos e tempo de residência no local do estudo superior a um ano. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista com questões sobre caracterização da mulher e com uma pergunta norteadora. Foram entrevistadas 13 mulheres, que mostraram ter como características comuns: baixa escolaridade, reduzida renda familiar e religiosidade. O tratamento dos dados resultou na construção de 12 discursos narrados na primeira pessoa, nos quais se verifica que as mulheres do grupo cultural estudado apresentam lacunas no conhecimento a respeito da aids e do cotidiano do indivíduo infectado pelo HIV. Atribuem significado religioso à epidemia; não se vêem sob risco de infecção pelo HIV por via sexual, principalmente devido à confiança na fidelidade do parceiro; negam o uso do preservativo nas relações sexuais, embora temam a aids por identificarem-na como uma doença incurável. Valorizam a necessidade de adoção de medidas preventivas à infecção pelo HIV, porém, pelos jovens, considerados mais susceptíveis. A análise dos dados, segundo o referencial teórico adotado, mostrou que a aids, para o grupo de mulheres estudado, não se constitui em preocupação, quando a abordagem recai na transmissão sexual em si própria, fato que alerta para a necessidade de planejamento de ações educativas culturalmente embasadas sobre a infecção pelo HIV nesse segmento. / Epidemic data has been demonstrating the senior woman\'s growing involvement in epidemic aids, this seen, it suited as motivation for the present study\'s realization. It\'s over a qualitative research, which had as theoretical reference the Medical Anthropology; for the data treatment the Collective Subject\'s Speech was adopted. The study objectives were: to verify the perception of 50-year-old women or older on epidemic aids, residents in a community of low income in the Municipal district of São Paulo; to verify their risk perception to the HIV infection, also if preventive actions are adopted. As inclusion criteria were considered: 50 year-old women or older along with time of residence in the place of study superior to one year. The data was collected through subjects\' interview over the woman\'s characterization and with a leading question. 13 women were interviewed that showed to have as common characteristics: low school education, reduced family income and religiosity. The treatment of the data resulted in the construction of 12 first person narrated speeches, which verify that women from the studied cultural group present gaps in the knowledge regarding aids and the HIV infected individual\'s everyday. They attribute religious meaning to the epidemic; not seeing each other under infection risk for HIV under sexual way, mainly due to trust in the partner\'s fidelity; they deny the use of preservatives in their sexual relationships, although they fear aids for identifying it as an incurable disease. They value the need to adopt preventive measures to the HIV infection, however, for the youths, considered more susceptible. The data analysis, according to the adopted theoretical reference, showed that aids, for the studied women\'s group, is not constituted in concern, when the approach relapses in the sexual transmission itself, fact that alerts to the need of educational action planning culturally based on the infection by HIV in that segment.

O diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1) é uma doença crônica que afeta milhares de pessoas, inclusive jovens e crianças. Famílias de crianças com DM1 são influenciadas pelo contexto cultural em que vivem, o qual também influencia as perspectivas dessas famílias sobre as causas da doença, tratamentos e práticas em saúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi interpretar os significados das experiências de famílias de crianças com DM1, a partir do sistema cultural. Para alcançar este objetivo, realizou-se estudo com abordagem metodológica qualitativa, adotando o referencial teórico da Antropologia Médica e a narrativa como método. Após aprovação ética da pesquisa, foram convidadas a participar do estudo doze crianças com DM1, em acompanhamento terapêutico em serviço de saúde localizado no estado de Minas Gerais, e seus familiares, totalizando 43 participantes. A principal técnica de coleta de dados foi a entrevista em profundidade, realizada prioritariamente nos domicílios dos participantes. Na busca pela explicação compreensiva de como as crianças e suas famílias lidam com o DM1, utilizamos os modelos explicativos, por meio dos quais identificamos que a causa, o tratamento e o prognóstico da doença são interpretados e definidos pelas famílias de diferentes maneiras. Como forma de valorização das estórias das crianças com DM1 e suas famílias e de organização dos dados, foram construídas as narrativas individuais de cada família, a partir das entrevistas realizadas com as crianças e seus familiares, e uma síntese narrativa do grupo de famílias. Para a análise dos dados provenientes das narrativas, utilizou-se a análise temática indutiva. Os resultados foram interpretados e apresentados a partir do núcleo temático: \"Vigilância das famílias de crianças com DM1: da rigidez à flexibilidade.\" A síntese narrativa representativa das experiências do grupo, explica o processo de vigilância familiar consequente às mudanças de hábitos e cuidados diários da criança adoecida. As experiências das famílias são construídas e acumuladas ao longo do processo de cuidado das crianças e a qualidade da vigilância familiar, se mais rígida ou mais flexível, está diretamente relacionada ao tempo de interação das famílias com a doença. Com o passar do tempo, as famílias sentem-se cada vez mais seguras para manejar os cuidados, o que as permite transpor a rigidez das próprias regras de cuidado seguidas para o controle da doença, como uma forma de oportunizar a experiência de ser criança sem DM1. Essa decisão familiar de flexibilizar o cuidado desencadeia emoções ambíguas de satisfação e culpa, e essa última é motivadora para o restabelecimento das ações rígidas de vigilância familiar. O significado dessas experiências foi explicado por meio do conceito antropológico da normalidade, vulnerabilidade e experiência moral. A interpretação das narrativas centradas na experiência de um grupo de famílias de crianças com DM1, a partir do sistema cultural, permitiu-nos explicar compreensivamente como a cultura influencia a saúde e o adoecimento, por meio dos significados. A interpretação dos significados das experiências das famílias constitui-se em conhecimento que pode ser aplicado na prática clínica e em pesquisas futuras / Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) is a chronic illness that affects thousands of people, including young people and children. Families of children with DM1 are influenced by the cultural context they live in, which also influences these families\' perspectives on the causes of the disease, treatments and health practices. The objective in this study was to interpret the meanings of the experiences of families of children with DM1 based on the cultural system. To achieve that objective, a qualitative study was undertaken, adopting the theoretical framework of Medical Anthropology and the narrative method. After receiving Institutional Review Board approval, 12 children with DM1 under therapeutic follow-up at a health service located in the state of Minas Gerais were invited to participate together with their family members, totaling 43 participants. The paramount data collection technique was the in-depth interview, mainly held at the participants\' homes. In the attempt to comprehensively explain how the children and their families cope with the DM1, the explanatory models were used, through which we identified that the families interpret and define the cause, treatment and prognosis of the disease in different ways. As a way to value the stories of the children with DM1 and their families and to organize the data, the individual narratives of each family were constructed, based on the interviews held with the children and their relatives, as well as a narrative synthesis of the family group. To analyze the data from the narratives, inductive thematic analysis was used. The results were interpreted and presented based on the core theme: \"Surveillance of families of children with DM1: from strictness to flexibility.\" The narrative synthesis representing the group\'s experiences explains the family surveillance process as a consequence of the changed habits and daily care for the sick child. The families\' experiences are constructed and accumulated throughout the children\'s care process and the quality of the family surveillance, whether stricter or more flexible, is directly related to the length of the families\' interaction with the disease. Over time, the families feel increasingly safe to manage the care, which allows them to overcome the strictness of the care rules followed to control the disease, as a way to permit the experience of being a child without DM1. This family decision to relax the care triggers biased emotions of satisfaction and guilt, and the latter motivates the reestablishment of the strict family surveillance actions. The meaning of these experiences was explained through the anthropological concept of normality, vulnerability and moral experience. The interpretation of the narratives centered on the experience of a group of families of children with DM1, based on the cultural system, allowed us to comprehensively explain how the culture influences the health and disease through the meanings. The interpretation of the meanings of the families\' experiences represents knowledge that can be applied in clinical practice and in future research

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-08T17:49:19Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_de_mestrado_Julio Antunes Barreto Lins 1.pdf: 1178353 bytes, checksum: 037cedb3694724a34ebe3b2109f0538f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-08T17:49:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_de_mestrado_Julio Antunes Barreto Lins 1.pdf: 1178353 bytes, checksum: 037cedb3694724a34ebe3b2109f0538f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-29 / Programas chamados de Mindfulness Based Therapy, de meditação atenção-conscientização, têm apresentado resultados significativos em meta-análises. Devido a isso, diversos estudos qualitativos têm investigado as transformações pessoais e construído teorias, sendo a principal a teoria da transformação da situação perceptiva. Mas apenas recentemente, em 2014, foi publicada a primeira investigação qualitativa investigando transformações interpessoais consequentes de tais intervenções. Já no Brasil, a Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares no SUS incentiva o ensino da meditação para promoção da saúde. Localmente, o programa Atentamente de ensino de práticas no SUS compõe, com outras práticas integrativas, as abordagens do Núcleo de Apoio em Práticas Integrativas (NAPI) SUS Recife. Nesse programa o aprendizado de atenção-conscientização é apresentado em consonância com as vivências dos participantes. Quanto à metodologia, o presente estudo de caso construiu roteiro de entrevista qualitativa semi-estruturada e dialogada a partir das teorias fundamentadas. Foram entrevistados seis informantes chaves sobre as experiências com os estágios de desenvolvimento em intenção, atitude e atenção. Além disso, foram acompanhados quatro turmas do curso com observação participante. Quanto aos resultados, as categorias mais importantes elencadas no processo de transformação intrapessoal foram Aceitação, leveza, permitir mudança e deixar os pensamentos irem. Já na compreensão das transformações interpessoais as de maior significância foram Estar presente com o Outro, reagir menos, pensar melhor e autoconfiança. A teoria da dádiva se mostrou potente na elucidação da mudança de atitude frente ao outro a partir das práticas contemplativas, e recirculação de dádivas fundamentais. / Programs classified as “Mindfulness Based Therapies” have shown significant results in meta-analyzes teaching attention-awareness meditation. Because of this, several qualitative studies have investigated the personal transformations building theories, the main theory being the transformation of the perceptual situation theory. But only recently, in 2014, was published the first qualitative research investigating interpersonal transformations related to such interventions. In Brazil, the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices in the SUS encourages the teaching of meditation for health promotion. Locally, the mindfulness-awareness based educational program Atentamente (“mindfully”) is part of the governmental strategy, the Center for Support in Integrative Practices (NAPI) SUS Recife. In this program attention-awareness of learning is presented in line with the experiences of the participants. As for the methodology, this is a case study built with qualitative interviews based upon the grounded theories. 6 key informants were interviewed about the experiences with the development stages in intention, attitude and attention. In addition, were followed four courses with participant observation. As for the results, the most important categories listed in personal transformation process were “Acceptance”, “lightness”, “enable change” and “let the thoughts go”. In the understanding of interpersonal transformations the main categories were “present with the Other”, “less reactive”, “better thinking” and “self-confidence”. The Gift theory proved powerful in elucidating the change of attitude from the other contemplative practices, and recirculation fundamental gifts.

Abstract This study explores women’s conceptions and experiences of heart disease in Kainuu, Finland through illness narratives. Conventionally, coronary heart disease has been considered a male disease. However, many women suffer from heart disease, but their illness experiences have called relatively little attention. This PhD study, which falls under the field of medical anthropology, looks at experiences and illness conceptions women attach to heart disease. The research material consists of 15 women’s narrative interviews collected during 2004–2005. The theoretical–methodological framework in this study employed cognitive anthropology and narrative research, and the two main concepts of the study are biographical disruption and cultural model. The analysis was performed by applying two reading methods: a holistically-oriented and a content-oriented method. The holistic exploration focused on biographical disruption and its effects. The disruption experienced due to illness varied between interviewees depending on the stage of their illness and their life situation. The content-oriented reading method was utilized to explore the conceptions and explanations of heart disease and to identify cultural explanatory models present in the research material. Four main cultural explanatory models were identified, which were titled “the inheritance model”, “the mental model”, “the food model” and “the character model”. The inheritance model presented genetic and hereditary explanations, while the mental model introduced different mental factors, such as pressure and stress. The food model emphasized factors related to food and eating and finally, the character model introduced characterizations of heart disease. The present study increases our understanding of heart disease experience from women’s point of view. / Tiivistelmä Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin kainuulaisnaisten sepelvaltimotautikokemuksia ja -käsityksiä heidän kertomuksistaan käsin. Sepelvaltimotauti on pitkään mielletty miesten sairaudeksi. Useat naiset kuitenkin sairastavat sepelvaltimotautia, mutta heidän sairauskokemuksensa ovat saaneet vain vähän huomiota. Lääketieteellisen antropologian erityisalaan kuuluvan tutkimuksen pääasiallinen aineisto koostuu 15 kainuulaisnaisen kerronnallisesta haastattelusta, jotka tehtiin vuosina 2004–2005. Haastatteluaineiston avulla selvitettiin sepelvaltimotautiin liittyviä sairauskokemuksia ja -käsityksiä. Tutkimuksen teoreettismetodologisessa viitekehyksessä hyödynnettiin kognitiivista antropologiaa ja narratiivitutkimusta. Tutkimuksen kaksi keskeisintä käsitettä ovat kulttuurimalli ja elämäkerrallinen katkos. Aineiston käsittelyssä ja analysoinnissa sovellettiin kahta lukutapaa, joista toisessa keskityttiin kertomuksiin kokonaisuuksina ja toisessa tarkemmin haastattelukertomusten sisältöön. Kertomusten holistisessa tarkastelussa keskityttiin sairastumiseen ja sen vaikutuksiin elämäkerrallisen katkoksen käsitettä käyttäen. Sairauden aikaansaama katkos ilmeni eri tavoin tutkimukseen osallistuneen sairauden vaiheesta ja elämäntilanteesta riippuen. Sepelvaltimotautikäsitysten ja -selitysten tarkastelussa käytettiin sisältöön keskittyvää lukutapaa, jonka avulla hahmoteltiin sepelvaltimotaudin kulttuurisia selitysmalleja. Sepelvaltimotaudin pääasiallisia kulttuurisia selitysmalleja nousi esiin neljä, jotka nimettiin periytyvyysmalliksi, henkiseksi malliksi, ravitsemusmalliksi ja luonnemalliksi. Periytyvyysmallissa sepelvaltimotautia ja siihen sairastumista selitettiin taudin periytyvyydellä ja geneettisillä tekijöillä. Henkisen mallin yhteydessä korostuivat erilaiset mentaaliset tautiin vaikuttaneet tekijät, kuten henkiset paineet ja stressi. Ravitsemusmallin yhteydessä korostuivat erilaiset ruokaan ja syömiseen liittyvät tekijät. Luonnemallin yhteydessä esille nousivat erilaiset sepelvaltimotautia luonnehtivat selitykset. Tutkimuksessa tuotetaan naisnäkökulmaista tietoa ja ymmärrystä sepelvaltimotaudin sairauskokemuksista.

Orientador: Nadia Farage / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T02:06:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Velden_FelipeFerreiraVander_M.pdf: 21743096 bytes, checksum: 0fb95c928b28e7e3004dfa7b09a8a38c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: Este trabalho aborda o conflito em torno de amostras genéticas recolhidas por pesquisadores biomédicos entre os Karitiana,povo de língua Tupi-Arikém em Rondônia. Busca compreender este encontro entre duas lógicas culturais distintas, a dos Karitiana e aquela que orienta os saberes e práticas das ciências biomédicas. Em 1996, dois pesquisadores denunciaram a comercialização de amostras de DNA e células dos Karitiana na página virtual da empresa norte-americana Coriell Cel!. Desde então, múltiplos atores entraram no debate em torno dos caminhos seguidos pelas amostras: pesquisadores biomédicos, a imprensa, o governo brasileiro, organizações não governamentais e os próprios Karitiana. De um lado, a pesquisa procura mapear as trajetórias dos materiais biológicos da aldeia até a internet - considerando suas diferentes posições no campo científico e as interações deste.com outros campos, como a justiça e a imprensa - a fim de esclarecer alguns dos procedimentos que tornam possível a intervenção das ciências biomédicas sobre populações politicamente minorizadas. De outro lado, explora a memória Karitiana dos eventos de coleta de seu sangue, tendo como pano de fundo a centralidade do corpo e de suas substâncias para os Karitiana, bem como para as sociedades indígenas sul-americanas em geral, sugerindo que é em termos de uma anátomo-fisiologia que os Karitiana pensam sua história, especialmente aquela do contato / Abstract: This work approaches the conflict around genetic samples collected by biomedical researchers among the Karitiana, a Tupi-Arikém-speaking people in Rondonia state, Brazilian Amazonia. It aims to understand the clash between two distinct culturallogics, the Karitiana logic, and the one which guides biomedical knowledge and practices. In 1996, two brazilian researchers revealed the commercialization of samples of DNA and celllines from the Karitiana on the USA-basedcompany Coriel! Cell's home page. Since then, different actors have been debating about the use and localization of the samples: biomedical researchers, the media, the Braziliangovemment, NGO's and, of course, the Karitiana. On this hand, this work mapped the trajectories of that biomedical materia from the Karitiana village to internet - considering its different positions in the scientific field, and its interactions with other fields like law and mass media -, seeking to understand some procedures which give room to intervention amongst political and social minorities. On the other hand, it investigates the Karitiana memories of these events of blood sampling, which are guided by the centrality of the body and bodily substances; as well as for the South-American indigenous societies. It suggests that Karitiana reflexions on the history of contact with the withes is ciphered on anatomy and physiology / Mestrado / Antropologia Social / Mestre em Antropologia Social

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:08:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pre-textuais.pdf: 1012572 bytes, checksum: 295bee273cdfb2168072af70ffd062c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-01-09 / The general intention of this article was to understand the concept of human being in the thought of Viktor Frankl. In particular, the aims were to study the anthropological and philosophical foundations of his thinking about the man, research the meaning of his Experimentum Crucis, and also clarify his Dimensional Ontology. The study used a qualitative methodology in existential phenomenological perspective, involving bibliographical research into those writings of Frankl and some of his principal interpreters which are relevant to the theme. The Critelli s analytical method was employed in seeking to understand Frankl s Experimentum Crucis. Conclusions reveal Augustinian and Thomist philosophical elements in Viktor Frankl's conception of "human fulfillment as self-transcendence, as well as shows strong influences of Max Scheler's axiology and Martin Heidegger's fundamental ontology. However, despite the influence of a range of authors with diverse epistemological perspectives, this study reveals the originality and internal unity of Frankl s thought about human / Este artigo teve como objetivo geral compreender a concepção do humano na perspectiva de Viktor Frankl. Os objetivos específicos foram estudar os fundamentos filosóficos e antropológicos do seu pensamento sobre o homem; pesquisar os significados do seu Experimentum Crucis; e, ainda, elucidar a sua Ontologia Dimensional. O estudo optou pela metodologia qualitativa na perspectiva fenomenológica existencial, através de pesquisa bibliográfica realizada a partir de obras selecionadas pela concernência ao tema, na literatura do autor e de alguns de seus principais intérpretes. Lançou-se mão do método analítico de Critelli para a compreensão do Experimentum Crucis frankliano. As conclusões revelaram elementos filosóficos agostinianos e tomísticos na concepção frankliana de plenitude humana como autotranscendência, assim como mostra fortes influências da axiologia de Max Scheler e da ontologia fundamental de Martin Heidegger. Contudo, apesar da influência de uma gama de autores com perspectivas epistemológicas diversas, este estudo revela a originalidade e a unidade interna do pensamento de Viktor Frankl sobre o humano

There are two independent streams of health care in South Africa: traditional healing and Western medicine. Proposals to formally integrate the two streams have been made by the World Health Organization and by the South African Department of Health. In this study, the philosophical background behind each of the two health care models is discussed, as well as literature on the possible integration of the two systems. It has not been clear if Western-trained health-care practitioners would be prepared to work with traditional healers. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine health care practitioners’ opinions, attitudes, knowledge and experiences with traditional healers, and to determine to what extent these variables would predict their intentions to work with these healers. A Within-Stage Mixed Model design was used, and data were collected using a selfdeveloped questionnaire. A total of 319 health care practitioners from State hospitals and clinics in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces participated in the study. The results of the study revealed significant differences between groups of health care practitioners in terms of their opinions, attitudes, experiences and intentions to work with traditional healers. Psychiatric nurses and psychiatrists showed more positive opinions, more positive attitudes, more knowledge and more willingness to work with traditional healers than do general nurses and physicians. Psychiatric and general nurses also had more experiences with traditional healing than did psychiatrists and physicians. The results also revealed that attitudes, knowledge, opinions and experiences predict Western health care practitioners’ intentions to work with traditional healers, with attitudes being the strongest and experiences the weakest predictors. Health care practitioners’ views of traditional healing were contradictory and ambivalent in many instances. This implies that integration of the two health care systems will be complex, that the current potential to integrate the systems is weak and that such integration can only be realised with considerable effort from all stakeholders. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Homebirth as Actor-Network: Multiple realities The topic of this medical anthropology thesis is a description of homebirth seen through the eyes of Actor-Network Theory. The focus of this work is thus not on the professional concept of homebirth as a biological process or soon-to-be-mothers experience and take on homebirth. Focus is on homebirth in itself, how it is enacted via interactions of actors in network. After the presentation of two points of view on medicine (disease and illness), an introduction into the basic principles and innovations of ANT (including anthropology of symmetry), into the works of people, who build their ideas on it (Mol - multiplicity, De Laet - fluidity, Law) and the presentation of the current birthing situation in the Czech Republic, the thesis shifts its focus to the description of the whole actor-network, which enacts homebirth via interaction between the actors in practice. These practices are abstracted from the interviews with mothers, a dula and a paediatrician. The description includes people and objects, because according to ANT, they have the same amount of social agency. Homebirth is then enacted by the objects needed for homebirth - tools to make birth easier and to support its process, by people who partake, venues it takes place in and the birthing positions it...

Disabled veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist in a category separate from many civilians and soldiers. Their experiences land them in a category distinctly marked as atypical. The standard protocol to manage this atypical subject position is prescription drugs- a mark of the ill. In a distorted, post-war American society, what happens when veterans with PTSD refuse to be labeled as ‘sick,' ‘different,' or even ‘disabled'? This thesis explores the actions and intricacies of a community of veterans who advocate for medical cannabis to manage associated symptoms of PTSD. This group of veterans campaigns for individuality, both in medical treatment and in personal experience. Collaboratively, their experiential evidence indicates that none can be treated in the same fashion. After a year of participant observation and field work, it becomes apparent that their work both individualizes and unifies the veterans. This thesis details their experiences and the results of their activist campaign to demarcate themselves.

Homebirth as Actor-Network: Multiple realities The topic of this medical anthropology thesis is a description of homebirth seen through the eyes of Actor-Network Theory. The focus of this work is thus not on the professional concept of homebirth as a biological process or soon-to-be-mothers experience and take on homebirth. Focus is on homebirth in itself, how it is enacted in practice. After the presentation of two points of view on medicine (disease and illness), an introduction into the basic principles and innovations of ANT (including anthropology of symmetry) and works of people, who build their ideas on it (Mol - multiplicity, De Laet - fluidity, Law), the thesis shifts its focus to the description of the whole actor- network, which enacts homebirth via interaction between the actors in practice. These practices are abstracted from the interviews with mothers, a dula and a paediatrician. The description includes people and objects, because according to ANT, they have the same amount of social agency. Homebirth is then enacted by the objects needed for homebirth - tools to make birth easier and to support its process, by people who partake, venues it takes place and the birthing positions it brings. Another part of the actor-network can be found before the homebirth happens - the hunt for information...