Experiences of Natural Childbirth under Sibaso Care in Rural Indonesia: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Childbirth is increasingly shaped by technocratic medical models, contributing to rising cesarean section (CS) rates worldwide and concerns about the erosion of physiological birth practices. This study explores how culturally embedded caregiving by Sibaso, traditional Batak birth attendants, influences maternal experiences of childbirth in Nainggolan District, Samosir Regency, Indonesia. Using a transcendental phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 participants, including five mothers and ten Sibaso practitioners. The findings reveal that Sibaso care operates through a relational pathway linking trust, comfort, and maternal self-efficacy. Spiritual reassurance, therapeutic touch, and empathetic communication created a sense of embodied relational safety that reduced childbirth anxiety and strengthened women’s confidence in physiological birth. This culturally grounded support functioned as a “cultural buffer” within an increasingly medicalized maternity system. The study highlights the importance of integrating relational and culturally responsive care into maternal health services to support respectful childbirth and potentially reduce non-medically indicated cesarean sections.