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Title "My job is to get pregnant women to the hospital": a qualitative study of the role of traditional birth attendants in the distribution of misoprostol to prevent post-partum haemorrhage in two provinces in Mozambique.
Full text https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1tq8f9zn
Date 2018
Author(s) Hobday, Karen; Hulme, Jennifer; Homer, Caroline; Zualo Wate, Páscoa; Belton, Suzanne; Prata, Ndola
Abstract BackgroundPost-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Mozambique. In 2015, the Mozambican Ministry of Health launched the National Strategy for the Prevention of Post-Partum Haemorrhage at the Community Level. The strategy included the distribution of misoprostol to women in advance at antenatal care and via Traditional Birth Attendants who directly administer the medication. The study explores the role of Traditional Birth Attendants in the misoprostol program and the views of women who used misoprostol to prevent post-partum haemorrhage.MethodsThis descriptive study collected data through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Traditional Birth Attendants between the ages of 30-70 and women of reproductive age participated in the study. Data was collected between June-October 2017 in Inhambane and Nampula Provinces. Line by line thematic analysis was used to interpret the data using Nvivo (v.11).ResultsThe majority of TBAs in the study were satisfied with their role in the misoprostol program and were motivated to work with the formal health system to encourage women to access facility based births. Women who used misoprostol were also satisfied with the medication and encouraged family and friends to access it when needed. Women in the community and Traditional Birth Attendants requested assistance with transportation to reach the health facility to avoid home births.ConclusionsThis study contributes to the evidence base that Traditional Birth Attendants are an appropriate channel for the distribution of misoprostol for the prevention of post-partum haemorrhage at the community level. More support and resources are needed to ensure Traditional Birth Attendants can assist women to have safe births when they are unable to reach the health facility. A consistent supply of misoprostol is needed to ensure women at the community level receive this life saving medication.
Subject(s) Humans; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Abortifacient Agents; Nonsteroidal; Misoprostol; Maternal Mortality; Midwifery; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Qualitative Research; Adult; Aged; Middle Aged; Health Facilities; Maternal Health Services; Mozambique; Female; Community; Maternal health; Post-partum Haemorrhage; Traditional birth attendant; Prevention; Clinical Research; Reproductive health and childbirth; Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine; Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
Coverage 174
Publisher eScholarship, University of California
Type of publication article
Format application/pdf
Source Reproductive health, vol 15, iss 1
Rights public
Identifier qt1tq8f9zn
Repository Berkeley - University of California
Added to C-A: 2022-08-22;11:38:01