Practices Of Traditional Birth Attendants Research Articles

A workshop for trainers of traditional birth attendants in zaire

Combining traditional healing and contemporary medicine requires several steps. The western health professional cannot easily interact with the traditional healers. Intermediate steps are essential: the persons steeped in western medicine and culture must transmit their knowledge to educated health personnel from the indigenous society, who then interpret knowledge and skills and convey them to the indigenous healers. The paper describes the first of a series of training-of-trainers' workshops held for 20 experienced midwives and auxiliary midwives working in the organized health system in rural areas of Zaire. After returning to their posts, these persons train the rural traditional birth attendants (TBAs). The workshop instructed the midwives to identify customs and practices of TBAs; how to teach them about maternity care and family planning; and how to evaluate and supervise them in their communities.

Traditional birth attendants among the Annang of Nigeria: Current practices and proposed programs

Nigerian Traditional Birth Attendants interfere as little as possible in the natural course of labor and delivery, capitalizing on the forces of gravity and the woman's own body to assist in a normal birth. The traditional birth attendant allows the laboring woman to squat for delivery, avoids the use of enemas and episiotomies, and cuts the cord following delivery of the placenta. This paper will describe the current practices of the rural Annang traditional birth attendants, the current practices of American and Nigerian obstetrical teams, and the proposed training program for the traditional birth attendant. These practices will be compared and contrasted with one another and suggestions made on what to change and what not to change in the practices of the traditional birth attendant. The paper does not attempt to cover any antenatal or postnatal practices, but is confirmed to the four stages of labor.