Abstract:
The study’s objective was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives
regarding the role of traditional birth attendants during postnatal care. The purpose
of the study was to improve the standard of postnatal care, and to empower
midwives with knowledge and skills regarding indigenous postnatal care practices, in order to meet the cultural care needs of postnatal patients from different
cultural backgrounds. South Africa, as a developing country, has midwives who
discharge postnatal patients after six hours post-delivery if the condition of both
the mother and the baby is satisfactory; therefore, the traditional birth attendants
render postnatal care at home. As a result, the midwives are not aware of the
indigenous postnatal care practices used by the traditional birth attendants when
taking care of postnatal women. Knowledge gained from this study may assist
midwives to identify and address indigenous practices that are a threat to the health
of women; to improve the standard of postnatal care. A qualitative approach using
in-depth face-to-face interviews with midwives was followed. The findings revealed
two themes, namely: (1) positive perceptions of midwives regarding the role of
traditional birth attendants; and (2) negative perceptions of midwives regarding the
role of traditional birth attendants. It is recommended that there should be teamwork
between the midwives and the traditional birth attendants in order to strengthen the
referral system of postnatal patients between the clinics or hospitals post-delivery
and to enhance and maintain continuity of postnatal care.
