The challenge of maternity in Spain: social and health difficulties
Maroto-Navarro, G.; del Mar García-Calvente, M.ía.; Mateo-Rodríguez, I.
Gaceta Sanitaria 18(Suppl 2): 13-23
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0213-9111 PMID: 15171841 Document Number: 238235
The present article reviews the recent literature on various issues related to maternity services and fertility in Spain and elsewhere. Information obtained from several official sources, technical reports, and the scientific literature produced in the last 5 years were used. Maternity is assigned insufficient importance due to cultural changes, women's difficulties in the labor market, inadequate public policies to support families, and deficiencies in the quality of pre- and postdelivery maternity care. Increased fertility rates may transform the organization of productive and reproductive work and the development of health and social services, and may stimulate improvement in institutional support.