Birthing hostages: Haitian women’s stories of maternal medicine, debt, and hospital detention
Abstract
What does it mean that hospitals in Haiti have become widespread sites of “kidnapping” for mothers and babies? In at least 46 countries, including Haiti, indebted patients are extralegally held prisoner in hospitals until family members, kin, outside groups, or charities pay their outstanding bills. The majority of those detained globally are women following complicated births. This article introduces and situates the global problem of “hospital detention” as it is practiced in Haiti, tying it to transnational architectures that target Black reproduction in global health. In this piece, Senisha and Mari share their experiences of detention, revealing the practice as continuous with other forms of coercion, neglect, and violence they face in seeking safe births, and highlighting the communal care, refusals, and acts of self‐liberation that oppose these oppressions.
With her back to the camera, Sara shares her story, speaking about her hope for lifesaving emergency care when she had a difficult labor with her twins. Her story is transposed in front of Danipy George’s painting “Sen Michel” (Saint Michael) created during the workshop on the theme of hospitals and hope. Photo by Alissa Jordan.
Geraldine recounts her journey from detention to the safety of her home. She is turned away from the camera and her image overlays an enlarged painting, “Lakay” (Home) by Danipy George depicting the journey home. Photo by Alissa Jordan.
After the workshop closes, Senisha recounts her story with her back to the camera. Her image is transposed in front of an enlarged painting, “Lamò” (Death) created by Danipy George during the workshop to depict themes of infant and maternal death. Photo by Alissa Jordan.
Mari narrates her story facing away from the camera, with Danipy George’s “Wout La Kraze” (The Road is Broken) in front of her gaze. The painting was produced during the workshop to represent the troubled path to care that patients experience. Photo by Alissa Jordan.
