Women’s perspectives of home birth with a traditional birth attendant in the East African Community: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Maternal mortality and morbidity related to childbirth constitutes a considerable health burden in the East African Community (EAC). This project aims to understand the perspectives of women regarding the role of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in home birth occurring in the EAC. To address this aim, a qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted. Electronic databases were searched and updated. References were screened, extracted, and assessed for their methodological quality. Data were analyzed using framework synthesis methods. Findings were analyzed, summarized, and presented narratively in tabular format. Results showed that women perceive birth as low risk supported by TBAs, TBAs address accessibility and organizational barriers, women value trusting relationships with TBAs, and women expect cultural competence that incorporates traditional and medical care from TBAs and hospital care providers. These findings suggest that TBAs should be upskilled and co-production of care between TBAs and health care providers creates a collaborative partnership improving mortality.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Health Sciences (MHSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community, Public and Population Health

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Ramkumar, Kaitlin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brunton, Ginny

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1935

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1935