Role of traditional birth attendants in the dissemination of advice on nutrition
Abstract
Nutritionists conducted a rapid assessment of nutrition advice dissemination to pregnant and lactating mothers by 35 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) after they underwent 3 training sessions in Samburu district, Kenya. Almost 90% of mother sought their advice both before and after delivery. 2 pregnant women came to them each month. 8 of the 9 TBAs who were key informants provided the mothers with dietary advice especially what foods not to eat. In fact, no TBA suggested the pregnant and lactating mothers increase caloric intake especially during the last 2-3 months of pregnancy. People in Samburu do not believe they should increase eating. TBAs advised women to drink milk and eat meat from healthy animals and meat soups with herbs and chili. They believed eating chili would keep the fetus from growing too large. Before eating chili, the women were supposed to not eat some meals or vomit to prevent large fetal size. The herbs made up somewhat for the vitamin C they missed from eating only small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables. Forbidden foods included camel milk, and some wild fruits, milk and meat from ill animals, meat from animals bitten by snakes, and meat from animals who died a natural death. All the TBAs helped the mothers for a short period after childbirth by preparing their food and feeding them. They advised postpartum women to eat and/or drink blood, meant, meat soups, maize meal porridge, and milk because these foods would increase breast milk production and improve the mothers' health. TBAs also counseled women on what to eat if there were complications. For example, women who were dizzy and fainted should drink more cow blood and eat more liver, meat, and meat soup. This was appropriate since these high iron foods would address anemia which the symptoms indicated was the complication. Health workers should include TBAs in nutrition education pre- and postnatally.
Citation
WORLD HEALTH FORUM. 1992; 13(2-3):197-9.Subject
Methodological StudiesFocus Groups
Midwives and Midwifery
Traditional Medicine
Health Education
Maternal Nutrition
Infant Nutrition
Beliefs
Culture
Pregnancy
Caloric Intake
Diet
Postpartum Women
Lactation
Developing Countries
Studies
Research Methodology
Data Collection
Health Personnel
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Medicine
Health Services
Education
Nutrition
Sociocultural Factors
Reproduction
Puerperium
Maternal Physiology
Physiology
Biology
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Reforming Health Care in Kenya: Prospects for Health - In - All - Policies Approach” World Health Organization and Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Kenya ,
Mwabu, Germano (University of NairobiDepartment of Economics, 2011) -
Factors associated with health seeking behavior in a two way health delivery system (modern publicly sponsored health services and traditional African health services), among the Banyala of Kakamega district
Mukolwe, John L (1989)This study is about factors associated with health seeking behavior in a two way health delivery system (modern publicly sponsored health services and traditional African medicine), among the Banyala of Kakamega district. ... -
Analysis of the Health Impact of Health Expenditures on Key Health Indicators in Kenya
Odhiambo, M; Kiriti-Nganga, T (University of NairobiDepartment of Economics, 2008)