Authors: Megan D Cogburn, Mohamed Yunus Rafiq
In rural Tanzania, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have shifted their roles due to government pressure and strict policies discouraging home births. To avoid penalties while still supporting pregnant women, TBAs publicly claim they only escort women to health facilities, though they continue to provide various forms of care. This approach allows them to navigate restrictive policies while maintaining their role in maternal health, highlighting the challenges posed by policy shifts that do not address systemic healthcare shortages.
Link: "We Only Escort Women to the Health Facility": Traditional birth attendants and the performance of indicator-driven care in rural Tanzania
Resource Topic: Maternal healthcare, Traditional Birth Attendants
Resource Type: Qualitative
Year: 2025
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Tanzania
Publisher May Restrict Access: Yes