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MOTHER’S PERCEPTION ON MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS IN SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTH CENTERS IN EKITI STATE, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Oluwaseyi A. Akpor, Goodhead E. Isaac, Olugbenga O. Aina, Olubukola E. Abiodun-Ojo*, Zainab B. Ijaiya, Omotayo D. Ogunje

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Abstract

Objective/Aim: This study assessed mother’s perception on maternal and child health services provided by traditional birth attendants in selected primary health center in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies as source of data collection. The study recruited 80 consenting mothers using a convenience sampling technique. Descriptive statistics of mean, frequency and percentage were used to summarize the obtained data. Chi-Square was used in testing of hypotheses. Alpha level was set at p<0.05.

Results: Results from this study showed that 55% of the participants were between the ages of 30-39 years and 51% of the participants had tertiary education. 85% of the participants in this study have heard about TBAs previously and 71.3% of the participants in this study acknowledged that utilization of TBAs can predispose them to excessive and prolonged bleeding and infection. The study showed 61.2% had a negative perception towards the services of the TBAs while 38.8% had a positive perception towards the services of the TBAs.

Conclusion: Health care professionals should make programs available to increase community outreach and to inform them about basic and early signs of pregnancy complications. This can consequently lead to a reduction in maternal, child mortality and morbidity rates.

Keywords: Traditional birth attendant, mothers, newborn, maternal and child health services, perception, primary health care centre.