Subjective Evaluation of Perinatal Care Regulation

In France the policy of regionalization and organization of perinatal care
is governed by a Decree issued in 1998, the objective of which is to improve prevention
of premature births and perinatal risks. Within this context, forty-nine health
professionals were interviewed by means of a qualitative questionnaire designed to
evaluate implementation of the Decree. The present report is primarily an analysis of
the mechanisms and psychosocial issues of over-medicalization of birth. This overmedicalization stems from the interacting effects of competence grading, linked to the
grading of health facilities, and the process of pathologization / surgicalization /
judiciarization of birth.
KEYWORDS: healthcare, perinatal care, hospitalization, surgical, birth, regulation,
competencies, participation, control, network