Utilisation of Maternity Care Services Offered by Traditional Birth Attendants in Chongwe Rural District

Abstract

To explore the services offered by traditional birth attendants (TBAs), determine outcome of deliveries, and to characterize the trained TBAs. : A cross sectional study was carried out in which 140 practising TBAs both trained (44) and untrained (96) were interviewed. A Backward logistic regression method was used to characterize the trained TBAs. Utilization of maternal services offered by TBAs and outcome of deliveries. : The majority of trained (75.0%) compared to untrained (44.8%) TBAs were able to read and write (p = 0.002). Most of trained TBA; (61.4%) provided services such as Antenatal care (ANC), Post-natal care (PNC) and conducted deliveries, while almost all the untrained TBAs (93.8%) conducted only deliveries. More trained (40.9%) compared to untrained (20.8%) TBAs attended to deliveries that ended up with Post Partum Haemorrhage (PPH) or infection (p=0.023). Respondents who were able to read and write were 74% (OR= 1.74; 95 %CI 1.06, 2.85) more likely to have been trained TBAs. Further more, TBAs who offered ANC, conducted deliveries as well as providing PNC services were 5.15 (95%CI 2.94, 9.01) times more likely to have been trained. Lastly TBAs who attended to mothers who experienced PPH or infections were 94% (OR=1.94; 95%CI 1.17, 3.23) more likely to have been trained. : TBAs provided matemal services (ANC, Deliveries and PNC) to pregnant women. However, significantly more trained TBAs experienced adverse outcomes of deliveries compared with untrained TBAs. Infection control and immediate referral of complicated cases must be emphasized during TBA training if the maternal mortality rate has to be reduced. Medical supplies must be constantly supplied to the trained TBAs.