Rapid Response publishes essays that relate to rapidly evolving experiences.
Members of the MAQ community are invited to submit material for Rapid Responses–either contributions to an existing series or ideas for a new series–directly to the Online MAQ Editor for consideration. Submissions will be reviewed expediently and posted as quickly as possible.
Rapid Response publishes pieces from SMA’s “Takes A Stand”, an initiative which encourages medical anthropologists to collaborate on policy-related reviews and briefs.
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COVID-19: a watershed moment for women’s rights in childbirth
“People — and their rights — must be front and center,” said the UN Secretary-General on 23 April 2020. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, drastic measures have been taken by public bodies and health authorities to contain the spread of the virus.…
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Anticoncepción durante COVID-19: experiencias de comunidades rurales e indígenas en Guatemala
Andrea Garcia, Meghna Nandi, Sandy Mux, Anita Chary y Kirsten Austad Wuqu’ Kawoq | Alianza de salud Maya (*For English, click here) Rosa[1], una mujer maya de 38 años, recibe una llamada telefónica de una enfermera de la organización no gubernamental (ONG),…
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‘Pop-up’ birth centers? Considering COVID-19 responses and place of birth in England
In Britain, antenatal and birth care in community settings is managed by midwives, and transfers to hospitals occur in the event of complications. Increasingly, research shows that for low-risk women, birth centers (midwifery units) are safer, beneficial for women, and cost-effective. Based on this evidence, UK maternity…
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Pink Permits and Reproductive Products: Transnational Fertility Migrants and the Invisible Impacts of COVID-19
A few years ago, I found myself accompanying a fertility migrant through the Tlokweng border between Botswana to South Africa. A Tswana woman called Sethunya was going to meet a woman she met on Twitter to barter over some sperm and eggs.…
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Political (in)action in abortion governance during COVID-19 in Europe: a call for a harmonized EU response during public health crises
Abortion under COVID-19 Abortion access is central to gender equality, human rights, and social justice, and it is fundamental in primary healthcare provision. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted health systems around the globe, including in Europe, where most countries have strong…
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Birthing Alone: Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the Shadow of COVID-19 in Italy
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a transformation of healthcare management within the hospital setting worldwide. In Italy, although all ‘non-urgent’ medical care and interventions were immediately postponed from the end of February 2020, in order to free up space and personnel…