traditional birth attendant (TBA)

traditional birth attendant
Originally uploaded by davida3.

There is lack of consensus on the role of the TBA in
Kenya and other countries . There is evidence in the medical literature both from Kenya and other countries that training traditional birth attendants in hygeine and modern birth techniques may not always result in improved outcomes for mothers, while other literature shows that such training can in fact improve outcomes . It has been noted in reviews of maternal care in Kenya also that women continue to die in childbirth because they are not referred in time for obstetric care. However, in looking at some of the literature it is clear that such evaluations do not always in tur evaluate the quality of training offered to TBAs. It is also clear to me that in the rural areas of Kenya, where people live in a traditional manner and where lack of roads and infrastructure meant that travel is extremely difficult it may not be simply a failure of the TBAS to refer for care in time
There is also shortage of skilled midwives and doctors to provide care in the rural areas . No more than in developed countries qualified professional staff in Kenya in general choose to live and work in the larger urban centers- Sylvia- the nurse mentioned in a previous post is a exceptional person.

Kenya continues to provide training for TBAs, and this as part of the wider suite of interventions to address many of the other social and health issues is a positive approach.. As a recent report form kenya says : Evidence has shown
that where there is strong leadership, motivated or
supported health care providers, and strong
partnerships with TBAs, more women seek the
quality care services during pregnancy, childbirth
and postpartum period. The challenge is now to
utilise the TBA more effectively during a transition
strategy from TBAs to increased skilled attendance for all women at birth.http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/SafeMom_TBA.pdf.