Abstract

In countries across sub-Saharan Africa, numerous women of reproductive age are still supported by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and family members during childbirth. Deliveries occurring without professional medical personnel and lacking access to essential medications are the most prevalent scenarios for millions of mothers in the impoverished nations where maternal mortality and morbidity rates are the highest.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of TBAs on the antenatal care-seeking behavior of women and to calculate the percentage of women of reproductive age who obtain antenatal care from TBAs in the Bakassi Health District. The research employed a mixed-method approach that incorporated both qualitative [multi-stage sampling techniques] and quantitative methods [in-depth interviews with TBAs]. The instruments for data collection included pretested semi-structured questionnaires and a focus group discussion guide.

Women of reproductive age and traditional birth attendants residing in the Bakassi Health District made up the target population. A total of 385 participants were randomly chosen from various health communities. Semi-structured questionnaires were distributed to women of reproductive age, while focus group discussions were conducted with TBAs. Data was entered into Excel, cleaned, and then imported into SPSS for analysis, with qualitative data being analyzed using NVivo. Variables with P will be considered to be statistically significance.

Based on the women previous deliveries places, majority of the women 275 (72.2%) have given birth in the hands of traditional birth attendants while 101 (26.5%) of the women have given birth in the hospital and 5 (1.3%) at home.

Findings showed that majority of the women 253 (66.4%) have not given birth in the presence of a skilled birth attendant while 128 (33.6%) of women have gave birth in the presence of a skilled birth attendant with 53 (13.9%) of them once, 31 (8.1%) twice, 14 (3.7%) thrice, 10 (2.6%) four times and 20 (5.2%) five times.

All the women who gave birth in the hospital indicated that the birth attendant was skilled while among the 275 (72.2%) women who have given birth in TBA places, 271 (71.1%) of them classify the TBA as not skilled and 4 (1.1%) classify the TBA as skilled. Also, among the 5 (1.3%) women who have equally given birth at home, all of them classify the birth attendant as unskilled.

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