title: Attitudes of women towards traditional midwives--a survey in the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) region.
abstract: Two hundred and forty-nine women of childbearing age from 20 villages in the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) desert region, who had borne a child, were asked about their attitudes towards institutional and non-institutional deliveries. Two hundred and two (81.6%) women preferred to give birth at home. One hundred and seventeen (46.9%) attended antenatal clinics at health facilities but virtually none of these attended postnatal clinics. Forty-one per cent of the women who prefer to give birth at home do so because at home they receive African 'muti' and an abdominal massage; 22.5% deliver at home because they feel it is safer and more convenient. Most African women and communities are reluctant to entrust the sluicing of their placenta and other products of conception to strangers such as nurses. Ninety per cent of respondents suggested that traditional midwives and health personnel should work together to improve community maternal health services.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chipfakacha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001902:Botswana; D005260:Female; D006700:Home Childbirth; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population