Knowledge and Skill of Traditional Birth Attendants in Hizla Upazila

Abstract

The paper focused on the situational analysis of TBAs (traditional birth attendant) at Barajalia union of Hizla Upazila. The objective of the study was to analysis the knowledge and skill of TBAs on maternal health. The snowball sampling technique found out 80 TBAs in the study area among those 61 TBAs were available during the survey. Statistical analysis such as Chi-square test was carried out by using SPSS 16 software. In the study, it was found that 40(65.57%) TBAs had no institutional education. Furthermore, the study area had only 4(6.55%) skillful TBAs who have received professional training from recognized institution. Besides, about 52(85.24%) TBAs who are still practicing have either inherited the technique or achieved from other TBAs. However, the results from this study showed that 59(96.72%) TBAs disinfected their equipment’s before delivery but none of them utilized antiseptic cream inside the vaginal canal. The results illustrated that only 9(14.75%) TBAs could understand the cervical dilation during delivery. Although 54(88.52%) TBAs brought out placenta gradually, infact 18(29.50%) could check whether the full placenta came out or not. It was found that 58(96.72%) TBAs utilized thread available at home while only 2(3.28%) used clamp to hold the cord in place where the cut was made. It was also found that delivery skill of TBAs was significantly associated (chi-square=23.814 and p=0.022) with education level of TBAs. Therefore, the study concluded that the institutional training and formal education triggered the skill and knowledge level of TBAs which ensure the safety in childbirth.