A study on the accessibility and utilization of trained traditional birth attendants in mazabuka district.

Abstract

This descriptive and cross sectional study was undertaken in Mazabuka District at the Health Centre. The general objective of the study was to determine the accessibility and utilization of trained Traditional Birth Attendants in the reduction of Maternal and Infant Mortality rate. Literature review was done from the global, regional and national perspectives. A pilot study was done using convenient sampling method of 8 trained traditional birth attendants in Lusaka urban. Data was collected from 48 trained Traditional Birth Attendants instead of the required 50 because the subjects were difficult to locate. Collection of data was done using a structured interview schedule. Two focus group discussions were conducted one in the rural area and one in the urban to augment the findings. The target group for the focus group discussion were the women of childbearing age group. The data was analysed using the data master sheet and computer software SPSS. The study findings revealed that trained Traditional Birth Attendants were preferred to untrained Traditional Birth Attendants (i.e. 91.6%) and that the community therefore, well utilized and appreciated their services. However, physical accessibility was often hindered due to distance. All (i.e. 100%) of the trained traditional birth attendants walked to their clients when their assistance is required. The study revealed that there was inadequate support from the Health centre staff in terms of supplies and supervision. 47.7% were never supervised while 17.1% never got any supplies. The UNICEF Kits were also inadequate i.e., 66.7% of the respondents had kits while 33.3% did not. The study revealed that a high percentage (54.2%) of the trained traditional birth attendants have never attended any refresher course after their initial training. The study revealed that 89.6% trained birth attendants were not remunerated for their services because they were either perceived as government workers and therefore they should be paid by the government. Others felt that they were volunteers. The study showed that 89.6% of trained traditional birth attendants conducted the last delivery in the period between 0-4 months. 85.4% kept a record of the deliveries they conducted, but some of the records never reached the Health centre in the area and the district office respectively. Some deliveries were not recorded at all while others were given directly to the NGOs that trained them.