INTERCULTURAL CHALLENGES AND PRACTICES IN PRENATAL CARE IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Prenatal care is essential for women's health throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. In special communities, this care focuses on humanized challenges and needs. In this sense, this study aimed to analyze the main challenges and intercultural practices that influence prenatal care in Brazilian indigenous special communities, understanding how structural, social, and cultural factors impact maternal and child health care. This was an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach, conducted between February and May 2026. Searches were conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, BDENF, and PubMed databases, supplemented by Google Scholar, using descriptors related to nursing, prenatal care, indigenous health, and interculturality. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 studies were selected to compose the final sample of the review. Studies have shown that Indigenous women still face significant barriers to attending prenatal care, notably geographical difficulties in accessing health services, low coverage of consultations and examinations, a shortage of trained professionals, and limitations in intercultural communication. It was also observed that the disconnect between the biomedical model and traditional knowledge compromises the effectiveness of care. Conversely, strategies based on interculturality, respect for cultural practices, and the qualification of health professionals have demonstrated potential to strengthen the bond between health teams and Indigenous communities. We can conclude that prenatal care in Brazilian Indigenous communities still presents challenges that reflect historical inequalities in access to health services. Strengthening public policies, valuing traditional knowledge, providing intercultural training for professionals, and integrating scientific and cultural practices are essential elements for promoting more equitable, humanized, and culturally sensitive prenatal care, contributing to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes.