BETWEEN TECHNIQUE AND HUMANITY: CHALLENGES OF QUALITY AND INTERCULTURAL WARMTH IN GYNECOLOGICAL AND OBSTETRIC SERVICES A PERSPECTIVE FROM SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship
between technical quality and human
warmth in gynecological and obstetric
services from a social work perspective.
In the Bolivian public hospital context, a
persistent gap is observed between clinical
protocols and the patient’s subjective
experience, especially in culturally
diverse populations. Using a qualitative,
phenomenological approach, testimonies
from patients and professionals were
analyzed, identifying critical barriers such
as language barriers, lack of empathy, and
the clash of worldviews between scientific
and traditional medicine. The results reveal
that dehumanization and symbolic violence
negatively impact therapeutic adherence
and patient satisfaction. It is concluded
that social workers act as indispensable
intercultural mediators, whose intervention
should be geared towards transforming
hospital management towards a model
centered on dignity, respect for identity,
and the humanization of care.