In Mexico, the pandemic increased maternal mortality, reversing the progress made in previous decades. Pregnant women and their children received less attention from health services. The quality of care before, during, and after pregnancy decreased, and some women died from COVID-19. In the indigenous area of the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico, additional challenges arose, such as a low supply of health centers, transportation and communication difficulties, and a lack of training for healthcare personnel to provide culturally safe care. In this context, indigenous women stopped going to hospitals for fear of contracting COVID-19. Moreover, some health centers closed due to staff shortages. In the municipality of Acatepec, once the hospital closed, the only alternative for these women was the Indigenous Women's House, a small community-based organization which is run by traditional midwives and community members, almost all of whom are women. There, services were available 24 hours a day, with four midwives constantly available. The service was free, funded by community contributions and partly by the Institute of Indigenous Peoples of Mexico. The house offered care with traditional midwifery and lodging for women from remote communities and their families. Younger women who spoke Spanish helped patients interact with available healthcare services and obtain transportation to more complex levels of care when necessary. In the communities, the house has supported the recovery of traditional midwifery. According to the women of the house, their good results do not mean that hospitals or health centers can be dispensed with. They see their work as an expression of indigenous knowledge and capacity to contribute to the health of their communities. Their interest is to be able to work in coordination with hospitals so that women and their babies receive the best possible care.
