Sharing and transferring indigenous midwifery knowledge to the younger generation: The case of Hlokozi Village, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Indigenous knowledge, such as midwifery knowledge, requires special focus because it is at risk of being lost. The younger generation seems to lack interest in gaining indigenous midwifery knowledge, likely due to the discomfort of observing the procedures of indigenous midwifery. Thus, they seem to prefer hospital birth because they consider it safer than giving birth at home. However, there is still a need to share indigenous midwifery knowledge with the younger generation so that they can gaining insight, competency skills, and a specific approach about giving birth in a customary way. This study aimed to discover whether indigenous midwives of Hlokozi village share and transfer their indigenous midwifery knowledge to the younger generation. The participants of this qualitative study were seven indigenous midwives of the Hlokozi village who were 63 years and older and had previously performed or assisted in indigenous child-birth. The snow-ball sampling method was used to select the participants. The Socialisation, Externalisation, Combination, and Internalisation (SECI) model framed the study. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analysed using the latest version of NVivo qualitative data analysis software. The findings showed that indigenous midwifery knowledge was not shared because the younger generation lacked interest and considered the procedures scary and unimportant.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of the Western Cape

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Jama, Nelisiwe

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Momoti, Nikiwe Gloria

• Knowledge management
• Indigenous knowledge
• Indigenous midwives
• Indigenous midwifery knowledge
• Knowledge sharing

Licence

• https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/bitstreams/e7876987-14f6-472e-a83d-25b12b1f12eb/download