Traditional birth attendants knowledge of delivery and its danger signs: a one-on-one interview

Abstract

Introduction

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) remain widespread across the country, despite the availability of skilled birth attendants.

Aim

The aim of our study was to conduct a one-on-one interview with traditional birth attendants to assess their knowledge of delivery and its danger signs.

Method

This was a qualitative ethnographic study with purposive sampling using a semi-structured interview questionnaire and one-on-one interview to collect data from thirty (30) traditional birth attendants in Ilorin, Kwara State. Ethical approval was obtained from the Kwara State Ministry of Health Ethics Committee with ethical approval number- MOH/KS/EV/777/VOLII/081. Quantitative evaluations were limited to the compilation of descriptive statistics to characterize the study sample and the reporting of frequencies and percentages in-text for demographics. The transcriptions were analyzed thematically, both inductively and deductively, and then rated for consistency and divergence. The final themes arose from the data, which included what participants said in answer to interview guide questions, questions asked to probe responses, and questions asked to clarify what was said.

Results

In total, 30 one-on-one interviews were conducted for the TBA who gave their consent to participate. Participants’ ages ranged from 25 to 65 years, with a mean age of 42.83 ± 9.9. The majority were female (29, 96.7%) and within the age range of 40–49 years (10, 33.3%). Although TBAs were able to take delivery properly, they were not aware of the danger signs of labor and were involved in a number of unhealthy practices.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive training programs aimed at improving the knowledge and practices of TBAs regarding the recognition of danger signs and appropriate emergency responses. Training should focus on enhancing TBAs' ability to identify critical symptoms and emphasize the importance of timely referrals to healthcare facilities.