Factors Influencing the Use of Traditional Birth Attendants among Women of Reproductive Age in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) are traditionally independent people of the health system, and are community-based providers of care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. In Nigeria, births assisted by TBAs and other untrained personnel are common; however, epidemiological data on their prevalence, trends, and determinants are limited. Yet in rural communities in Nigeria, TBAs constitute the greater number of childbirth care providers. Hence the need for this study on the factors influencing the utilization of traditional birth attendants among women of reproductive ages in Benue State, Nigeria. The rational choice theory was used in the study. The study used a primary data adopting cross sectional design. The population for this study was selected from rural women of reproductive ages of 15-46 years. A total number of 354 rural women participated in the stud. Data were collected using questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion. The findings showed that, economic factors associated with the utilization of traditional birth attendants were cheap services, caring nature of TBAs, desire for privacy, family involvement with care, faith based reasons, untoward attitude of healthcare workers and a favorable previous experience all contribute to these respondents’ decision to patronize the TBA centers. Facility based factors such as caring nature of TBA and untoward attitude of healthcare workers were also found to be significant in influencing the women’s patronage of TBA centers. It was suggested that healthcare workers especially midwives should hence try to inculcate the caring labour care of these TBAs.