Maternity Services and the Role of the Traditional Birth Attendant, Bidan Kampung, in Rural Malaysia

Abstract

This study was undertaken to explore the roles played by bidan kampungs and understand their contribution to rural Malay women during pregnancy and childbirth hundred sixteen pregnant women, 13 Western midwives, and 12 bidan kampungs were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. Data were collected from focus groups, in-depth interviews, field notes, and observations. The findings indicated that although the women were happy to have Western maternity care, they valued the social and spiritual support received from bidan kampungs during pregnancy and postnatal care. Western care was considered useful for "modern" illnesses. The traditional maternity care that women received included pantang or ritual prohibitions that helped them through pregnancy and helped them achieve better postnatal recovery. The study indicates that there is a need to combine Western and traditional care for the benefit of the pregnant women and their infants' health.

What Is the Role of Informal Healthcare Providers in Developing Countries? A Systematic Review

“…The remaining 109 references were indirectly relevant to the topic and provided additional context and background for the review. Regionally, almost half of the studies (48.0%) of studies were from sub-Saharan Africa [3]–[56], followed by 23.5% in South Asia [57]–[83], 12.6% in Southeast Asia regions [84]–[98], and 4.2% in Latin America [99]–[103]. Additionally, almost 12% of articles covered multiple regions [104]–[115].…”

Home‐Based Life‐Saving Skills in Liberia: Acquisition and Retention of Skills and Knowledge

“…Nurses at the referral hospital report pregnant women come in with problems in a more timely manner, allowing for earlier intervention and thereby decreasing advanced complications. We believe these apparent improvements are related to the cultural value placed on TBAs by the women they serve 24 : traditional midwives represent an invaluable link between Westernized care and traditional practices. As trusted providers, they are able to share information and help childbearing women to seek formalized health care.…”

Does cultural practice affects neonatal survival- a case control study among low birth weight babies in Aceh Province, Indonesia

“…It involved the management of most illnesses at any stages for an individual who lives in society with strong cultural beliefs. Many studies done earlier had shown the association between cultural practice, its shared beliefs and norms that influence family behaviours in obtaining maternal and child health care [ 1 – 3 ]. Modern healthcare practice is not well accepted or utilized if family awareness and knowledge level is inadequate for them to make good decision.…”

“…Many cultural practices are still commonly practice without knowing its existing health benefits or potential harm. The common reasons for cultural practicing were due to self-belief, convenience, family pressure and to please the elders [ 1 , 4 ].…”