Preserving misconceptions or a call for action? – A hermeneutic re-reading of the Nativity story

Figures & data

Fig. 1 The hermeneutic circle of interpretation.

Table 1 Observed reproductive health problems in the Nativity story

	Reproductive health problems observed		Possible and observed results
An unwanted pregnancy	•	Stigma of becoming pregnant out of wedlock	•	Concealment of pregnancy, lack of antenatal care
	•	Risk of abortion	•	Stress in mother
An unsafe delivery	•	Hard physical strain late in pregnancy	•	Risk of preterm birth
	•	Poor birth preparations	•	Risk of stillbirth
	•	No skilled attendance at birth	•	Risk of maternal death
	•	Poor hygiene at delivery	•	Risk of neonatal death
	•	Lack of skin-to-skin care

Fig. 2 Hermeneutic interpretation of the Nativity story.