Utilisation of Maternity Care Services Offered by Traditional Birth Attendants in Chongwe Rural District
Date
 2007-07 
Authors
Hazemba, A.
Sizitya, R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
 Medical Journal of Zambia 
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. 
Description
 Services offered by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and determine outcome of deliveries, and  characteristics of the trained TBAs 
Keywords
 Traditional Birth Attendants--Zambia , Maternal health services--Zambia , Midwives--zambia 
Citation
 Hazemba, A. and Sizitya, R. (2007). Utilisation of Maternity Care Services Offered by Traditional Birth Attendants in Chongwe Rural District. Medical Journal of Zambia. 34 (3)