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Project Summary
This research project asks 'How social and structural inequalities operate both听symbolically and through everyday activities to put people more at risk'.
To answer this we are conducting an in-depth study of maternal and child health听in Mexican indigenous communities from the position of Structural Violence, a听concept that refers to the social structures that put individuals and populations in听harm's way. Using ethnography we will explore how social, cultural, economic听and political structures operate to as a wider 'risk environment', that precedes听individual decision making processes and behaviour.听
This research and its linked intervention is taking place in indigenous Huichol听communities of Jalisco in Northwestern Mexico. These communities are among听the most highly marginalised regions of Mexico with one of the highest infant and听maternal mortality rates in the country.
We began with a comprehensive review of research on structural violence relating to women's reproductive health though听which we identified a specific set of 'structural' risk factors and mechanisms. The听field based element of this research will centre on a longitudinal study of at least听thirty pregnant women.听
The project is working on collaboration with the communities and several听institutions to develop appropriate local and structural interventions.