Perinatal care by traditional healer-midwives of Nigeria

Abstract

A group of 106 Yoruba traditional healers who practice midwifery were interviewed, by means of a semistructured questionnaire, regarding their knowledge of various aspects of perinatal care. The study confirmed earlier reports that these herbalists are indispensable to delivery services in Nigeria. Their procedures for assisting at births were described and the healers were found to be ignorant in such important areas as normal duration of labor, causes of various obstetric complications and functions of the placenta. It was concluded that the lacunae in their knowledge could be responsible for the high morbidity and mortality associated with their practice, and might also explain their unscientific and sometimes magico-religious approach to management of perinatal health problems. The need to provide them with appropriate training is emphasized.

PIP: Subjects of this study were 106 Nigerian traditional healers-herbalists, most of whom claimed to practice midwivery. A loosely structured questionnaire was prepared to evaluate their obstetric knowledge and practices. Even if most healers appeared to be aware of such complications as breech presentation, retained placenta, and prolonged labor, the great majority believed evil forces, or excessive hot heat, or the mother's hot blood to be causes of such complications as postpartum hemorrhage, and the great majority still used incantations, or powdered herbal concoctions to treat any kind of pregnancy and delivery complication. Such traditional practitioners are undoubtedly partly responsible for the high infant morbidity and mortality; still, the psychological advantages of their presence during parturition has been well substantitated. Short courses of training in modern delivery and health care techniques, and in disease prevention, should be organized appropriate to the level at which such practitioners function.