A qualitative study of conceptions and attitudes regarding maternal mortality among traditional birth attendants in rural Guatemala.
OBJECTIVE
To explore conceptions of obstetric emergency care among traditional birth attendants in rural Guatemala, elucidating social and cultural factors.


METHODS
design Qualitative in-depth interview study.


METHODS
Rural Guatemala.


METHODS
Thirteen traditional birth attendants from 11 villages around San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Guatemala.


METHODS
Interviews with semi-structured, thematic, open-ended questions. Interview topics were: traditional birth attendants' experiences and conceptions as to the causes of complications, attitudes towards hospital care and referral of obstetric complications.


METHODS
Conceptions of obstetric complications, hospital referrals and maternal mortality among traditional birth attendants.


RESULTS
Pregnant women rather than traditional birth attendants appear to make the decision on how to handle a complication, based on moralistically and fatalistically influenced thoughts about the nature of complications, in combination with a fear of caesarean section, maltreatment and discrimination at a hospital level. There is a discrepancy between what traditional birth attendants consider appropriate in cases of complications, and the actions they implement to handle them.


CONCLUSIONS
Parameters in the referral system, such as logistics and socio-economic factors, are sometimes subordinated to cultural values by the target group. To have an impact on maternal mortality, bilateral culture-sensitive education should be included in maternal health programs.
Rööst
Mattias
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital MAS, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Johnsdotter
Sara
S
Liljestrand
Jerker
J
Essén
Birgitta
B
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012423:Rural Health; D019035:Rural Health Services