Recommendations for Integrating Traditional Birth Attendants to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

Adverse maternal health outcomes and high rates of maternal mortality continue to disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With limited access to health facility care, many women in LMICs rely on traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to meet their maternal health needs. While some studies consider the use of TBAs to be problematic, others suggest the integration of TBAs into maternal healthcare to improve health outcomes. The aim of this study is to utilize extant research to provide recommendations for optimizing the role of TBAs in maternal healthcare in Haiti, a LMIC. Each recommendation builds upon previous global health research, programmatic work, and a series of research studies conducted in Haiti to better understand and improve maternal healthcare in low-resource settings. Recommendations for integrating TBAs in maternal health include: (1) Integrate TBAs throughout prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care to provide culturally relevant physical and emotional support to mothers; (2) Build capacity among TBAs to identify high-risk situations and link patients to care; (3) create TBA-led efforts to improve coordination and care; (4) Establish a collaborative pipeline from TBAs to facility-based care; and (5) create inclusive facility environments for TBAs to help reduce medical mistrust among patients. TBAs occupy an important role in the maternal health of women in LMICs and have the potential to contribute toward improved maternal health outcomes. The recommendations provided herein can be used to aid practitioners and researchers in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality globally.