BEING IN A DILEMMA: EXPERIENCING BIRTH IN ZAMBIA

Abstract

Physical measures such as maternal mortality have long been important dimensions for evaluating maternal health, overlooking the delicate interrelated psychological and emotional elements that women experience. Although such measures are important, they are not adequate to explain the complexity of human experience. The exclusion of women’s subjective experiences from maternity service evaluation in Zambia has rendered an incomplete and unclear depiction of the childbirth phenomenon. In the absence of such information this study was conducted. The aim was to bring to light childbirth experiences of women giving birth in Zambia in order to better understand how women experience and give meaning to the phenomenon. The study adopted an interpretive phenomenological approach informed by the philosophical works of Martin Heidegger. A key strategic element of this approach was Heidegger’s concept of ‘Dasein’. The research question was: “How do women in Zambia experience and interpret childbirth?” Purposive sampling was utilised and resulted in fifty women aged between 16 and 38 years participating in the study. Data were collected through in-depth unstructured interviews. Data analysis utilised van Manen’s six steps of analysis. The experience of childbirth was conceptualised under eight themes. The third theme was: “Being in a dilemma”. The findings illuminated a need for an attitudinal change in maternity care professionals towards a more caring approach, and a parallel need to build agency and autonomy in women at individual and societal levels. This is in order for them to be able to challenge discriminatory, oppressive and patriarchal attitudes and practices.