Nové trendy v českém porodnictví a sociální nerovnosti mezi rodičkami
New Trends in the Czech Birthing System and Emerging Social Inequalities among Birthing Women

Summary/Abstract: The article looks at the changes in the Czech birthing system that have occurred as market conditions have come to be introduced into the health-care system. Drawing on the results of an ethnographic study carried out at two Czech maternity hospitals, the authors highlight the relevance of two concepts: consumerism and the commercialisation of birth care. These complex processes have a signifi cant impact on the character of the Czech birthing system, but they have also contributed to the re-emergence of social inequalities in the maternity hospitals observed in the study. The findings from the study confirmed the association between the socio-economic status of mothers and how a woman relates to consumerism, which in turn influences how a woman approaches childbirth. The study also revealed that maternity hospital staff draw a connection between the socio-economic status of birthing women and the course and outcome of childbirth. However, according to these ‘native’ interpretations, women with a higher socio-economic background, who tend to exhibit stronger inclinations towards consumerism, have ‘more difficult’ births with more complications.

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