TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS AND TRADITIONAL SKILLS OF MANAGING CHILDBIRTH COMPLICATIONS: A MIXED METHODS STUDY IN SOUTH SALMARA-MANKACHAR DISTRICT OF ASSAM, INDIA

Abstract

Birthing process is an event that requires help of other women or trained personnel to assist the childbirth. In the past, a traditional birth attendant (TBA) used to play an important role. Even today, TBAs are an integral part of the child birthing process in developing countries or low resource setting areas. World Health Organisation (WHO), 1992 defines Traditional birth attendants (TBA) as a person, usually; a woman who assists the mother at childbirth and who initially acquired her skills in assisting childbirth by herself or by working with other TBAs. In the present day, TBAs render their service to women, especially in those places where the existing health system is not accessible, available, acceptable and affordable. TBAs also handle childbirth complications such as breech position baby, retained placenta, prolonged labour pain, resuscitation problem of newborn etc. through using their traditional knowledge. TBAs are playing an important role in many places in maternal health still, they are not acknowledged by the existing health system. Therefore, this paper was an attempt to understand different skills and techniques that TBAs hold to manage labour complications. Using Mixed methods, the study was conducted in Assam where maternal death is highest in India. South Salmara-Mankachar district of Assam was selected purposively for the study as the rate of childbirth is highest in the year of 2017-18 (HMIS).