Authors: Esther O Oluwole, Tolulope E Oluwadumila, Ifeoma P Okafor, Abiola O Temitayo-Oboh
Unskilled delivery, especially with traditional birth attendants (TBAs), poses a major risk to reducing maternal mortality in Africa. This study examined why pregnant women in rural Lagos, Nigeria, continue to use TBA services. Among 347 pregnant women surveyed, 70.3% used only TBA services, while 29.7% used both TBA and healthcare facilities. Positive perceptions of TBAs were common, and reasons for using TBAs included recommendations from previous users (81.6%), welcoming staff (77.2%), perceived spiritual protection (75.2%), and past use (68.6%). Women with higher education levels were less likely to rely solely on TBAs, while those without health insurance were more likely to do so. The study suggests continuous training and monitoring of TBAs to improve maternal care.
Link: Perception and reasons for the choice of informal provider among women receiving antenatal care services from traditional birth attendants in rural communities of Lagos state, Nigeria
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Resource Topic: Antenatal Care
Resource Type: Cross-sectional mixed methods
Year: 2024
Region: Africa
Country: Nigeria
Publisher May Restrict Access: No