The medicalization and institutionalization of birth have expanded worldwide, often replacing traditional birth attendants (TBAs) with doctors or certified midwives, even in some remote areas of the Global South. The disappearance of midwives in rural areas has led to the loss of their ancestral knowledge and, in some cases, made it more difficult for pregnant women living far from urban centers to access maternal healthcare. Given the cultural and social importance of TBAs in rural communities, it is necessary to acknowledge them and their role, not only to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes, but also to value ancestral knowledge and promote reproductive justice for women in these contexts. Following these intentions, this presentation explores the life stories of four TBAs in La Guajira, a region in northeastern Colombia, who belong to Indigenous wayuu and Afro-descendant communities. Based on narrative interviews conducted in July 2024 and March 2025, this study aims to understand their sociocultural background, their relationship with traditional midwifery (such as how they learned this practice and how they interact with other midwives and health professionals), their experiences as TBAs, and the social and political impact they perceive in their work. Understanding TBA’s perspectives and experiences can inform public policies that better integrate them into healthcare systems, ensuring a critical intercultural care for women in rural and multiethnic contexts. Although focused on Latin America, this work is part of a wider debate on traditional midwifery and hopes that its discussion can contribute to understanding how ancestral knowledge can complement biomedical approaches.

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