Scientific article
English

Tensions around risks in pregnancy: A typology of women's experiences of surveillance medicine

Published inSocial science & medicine, vol. 93, p. 55-63
Publication date2013
Abstract

The experience of pregnancy is currently driven by the development of surveillance medicine focused on the monitoring of a wide range of risks. Research usually relies on binary categories opposing women accepting medical surveillance to those resisting it. Recent studies have however underlined the complexity of women's experiences, as well as the ambivalence of their attitudes toward medical procedures and recommendations. Based on 47 qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted in Switzerland between 2008 and 2009, this paper presents the diversity of pregnant women's experiences of surveillance medicine through the description of four contrasting groups : “endorsing surveillance medicine”, “coping with risks”, “striving for certainty” and “questioning surveillance medicine”. Taking into account various risks related to pregnancy, these empirically-grounded groups are discussed in relation to the cultural dynamics of contemporary risk discourses.

Keywords
  • Switzerland
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk
  • Surveillance medicine
  • Women's experiences
  • Typology
Funding
  • Swiss National Science Foundation - L'information et la gestion des risques dans le suivi de la grossesse : le contexte juridique et sociologique de la relation médecin-patiente
Citation (ISO format)
HAMMER, Raphaël, BURTON-JEANGROS, Claudine. Tensions around risks in pregnancy: A typology of women’s experiences of surveillance medicine. In: Social science & medicine, 2013, vol. 93, p. 55–63. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.05.033
Main files (1)
Article (Accepted version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0277-9536
594views
4downloads

Technical informations

Creation28/12/2013 21:45:00
First validation28/12/2013 21:45:00
Update time14/03/2023 20:47:57
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