Why women utilize traditional rather than skilled birth attendants for maternity care in rural Nigeria: Implications for policies and programs
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Date
2021-09-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Abstract
Objective: Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicate that many pregnant women in rural
Nigeria use traditional birth attendants (TBAs) rather than skilled birth attendants (SBAs) for maternal health
care. This is one factor that accounts for the persistently high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria. The objective
of this study was to identify the pervading reasons that women use TBAs for pregnancy care in rural Nigeria and
to make recommendations for policy and programmatic reform.
Design: Qualitative research design consisting of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and commu nity conversations, followed by inductive thematic analysis.
Setting: Twenty rural communities (villages) in Etsako East, and Esan South East Local Government Areas of Edo
State, South-South, Nigeria.
Participants: Twenty focus group discussions with men and women in a marital union; 15 key informant inter views with policymakers, senior health providers, and women leaders; and 10 community conversations with key
community leaders.
Findings: Some reasons proffered for using TBAs included perceptions of higher efficacy of traditional medicines;
age-long cultural practices; ease of access to TBAs as compared to SBAs; higher costs of services in health facilities;
and friendly attitude of TBAs.
Key conclusions and implications for practice: The continued use of TBA is a major challenge in efforts to achieve
the Sustainable Development Goal 3 in Nigeria. We conclude that efforts to address the factors identified by
community stakeholders as inhibiting the use of SBAs will promote skilled birth attendance and reduce maternal
mortality in rural Nigeria
Description
Main Article
Keywords
ACE: Reproductive Health Innovation, CERHI, University of Benin, Nigeria, Traditional Birth Attendants, Skilled Birth Attendants, Maternal mortality, Rural Women, Chioma Ekwo, Wilson Imongan
Citation
Lorretta Favour Chizomam Ntoimo, Friday Ehbodaghe Okonofua, Chioma Ekwo, Tosin Ojuolape Solanke, Brian Igboin, Wilson Imongan, Sanni Yaya, Why women utilize traditional rather than skilled birth attendants for maternity care in rural Nigeria: Implications for policies and programs, Midwifery, Volume 104, 2022, 103158, ISSN 0266-6138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103158. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613821002382)