We have been working overnight without sleeping”: traditional birth attendants’ practices and perceptions of post-partum care services in rural Tanzania

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.author Mahiti, R.J.
dc.contributor.author Kiwara, D.A.
dc.contributor.author Mbekenga, K.C.
dc.contributor.author Hurtig, A.
dc.contributor.author Goicolea, I.
dc.date.accessioned 2016-09-14T07:01:53Z
dc.date.available 2016-09-14T07:01:53Z
dc.date.issued 2015-02
dc.identifier.citation Mahiti GR, Kiwara AD, Mbekenga CK, Hurtig AK, Goicolea I. “We have been working overnight without sleeping”: traditional birth attendants’ practices and perceptions of post-partum care services in rural Tanzania. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2015 Feb 3;15(1):1. en_GB
dc.identifier.uri http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2031
dc.description.abstract Background: In many low-income countries, formal post-partum care utilization is much lower than that of skilled delivery and antenatal care. While Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) might play a role in post-partum care, research exploring their attitudes and practices during this period is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore TBAs’ practices and perceptions in post-partum care in rural Tanzania. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interview data were collected from eight untrained and three trained TBAs. Additionally, five multiparous women who were clients of untrained TBAs were also interviewed. Interviews were conducted in February 2013. Data were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data. Results: Our study found that TBAs take care of women during post-partum with rituals appreciated by women. They report lacking formal post-partum care training, which makes them ill-equipped to detect and handle post-partum complications. Despite their lack of preparation, they try to provide care for some post-partum complications which could put the health of the woman at risk. TBAs perceive that utilization of hospital-based post-partum services among women was only important for the baby and for managing complications which they cannot handle. They are poorly linked with the health system. Conclusions: This study found that the TBAs conducted close follow-ups and some of their practices were appreciated by women. However, the fact that they were trying to manage certain post-partum complications can put women at risk. These findings point out the need to enhance the communication between TBAs and the formal health system and to increase the quality of the TBA services, especially in terms of prompt referral, through provision of training, mentoring, monitoring and supervision of the TBA services. en_GB
dc.language.iso en en_GB
dc.publisher Bio med central en_GB
dc.relation.ispartofseries Mahiti et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth;10.1186/s12884-015-0445-z
dc.subject Perceptions en_GB
dc.subject Post-partum care services en_GB
dc.subject Practices en_GB
dc.subject Tanzania en_GB
dc.title We have been working overnight without sleeping”: traditional birth attendants’ practices and perceptions of post-partum care services in rural Tanzania en_GB
dc.type Article en_GB


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search MUHAS IR


Advanced Search

Browse

My Account