Reconsidering the value of traditional birth attendants: a literature review

The maternal mortality rate is unacceptably high in Sub-Saharan African nations. Policies and strategies to reduce the maternal mortality rate focus on encouraging skilled birth attendance and discouraging the practice of traditional birth attendants (TBAs). The purpose of this literature review is to uncover the impact of current, globally accepted policies. An integrative literature review methodology was used and found that current strategies to reduce the maternal mortality rate are proving inadequate. In the interim, the role of the TBA is becoming increasingly more devalued by global institutions, including the World Health Organization. The review argues that the emphasis should be directed away from the category of person providing care to women during childbirth and toward addressing social factors, including reducing poverty, increasing food and water security, reducing conflict/war, improving transport and communication infrastructure and eliminating gender inequity.