Contributing factors to maternal complications during Labour and delivery at Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) IN Nkhotakota

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Date
2008-11-30
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
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This study aimed at exploring contributing factors to maternal complications during labour and delivery at T BAs in Nkhotakota. Maternal complications are one of the 1 causes of maternal death in Malawi. The study employed a qualitative research design. The setting was Nkhotakota District Hospital and TBAs clinics. The sites were chosen to represent other T BAs clinics and the hospital as a referral site for complicated maternal cases. Purposive sampling was used. A total of fifteen participants were recruited in the study of which ten were women who developed complications at T BAs and five were trained 1 and practicing T BAs. Semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Data was analysed manually using content analysis. The findings of the study have revealed that maternal complications at TBAs is a result of an interplay of several factors such as delay in decision making both by T BAs and husbands of clients, unsafe practices during labour and delivery, dirty environment, poverty and long distance to reach the health facility. It is therefore important to address the challenges met by T BAs and weaknesses of T BAs considering that the access to acceptable, professional, modern health care services for all pregnant women is still not met and the fact that T BAs represent the only source available for maternity care to many developing country women including Malawi.
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