The tactical tightrope that childbirth educators must walk when trying to help women through pregnancy and labor was the subject of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Dr. Barbara Turnage

Click on the cover above to read the magazine. The article begins on page 18.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Barbara Turnage, a professor in the Department of Social Work, first aired Aug. 8 on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org ). You can listen to their conversation below.

Turnage, along with assistant professor Justin Bucchio and department chair Rebecca Smith, authored the article “Child-birthing Practices on a Global Level” for the April 2016 edition of the “International Journal of Childbirth Education.”

In the article, the professors pointed out the role of childbirth educators in assisting women in making birthing decisions and dealing with cultural and family issues that might affect the health of the mother and child.

“We want them to make the best choice based on this information they have,” Turnage notes during the WMOT interview. “But sometimes, even though the woman might want to go and get the medical services, they might not have the ability to make that decision. And you have to accept that.”

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.