“C-section? Thanks, But No Thanks!”: activism in an online community in quest for normal childbirth in Brazil

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to comprehend the organisation of an online community which supports middle-class women from different parts of Brazil in the process of achieving humanized care in childbirth. A netnography has been performed in the community C-section? Thanks, But No Thanks! on Facebook. The analysis focuses on knowledge exchange, mutual support among participants on what they call empowerment process and changes in physician-patient relationship. Four profiles have been categorized: uninitiated, initiated, informed patient and healthcare professional. The reasons why users search for online information encompass interest in decision-making autonomy, care and humanization of childbirth. The community contributes to this process as it organizes, educates and provides tools for participants transformation into informed patients.

Keywords:
Natural Childbirth; Humanization of Assistance; Online Social Networking; Patient Educations as Topic; Cultural Anthropology