Source: Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Sumbawanga — DESPITE reports that the number of expectant mothers attending clinics has increased, few are said to give birth in health facilities and instead prefer using traditional midwives.

Rukwa Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr John Gurisha revealed here yesterday but he would not give the exact number of pregnant women attending clinics.

He, however, noted that the number of women attending clinic does not tally with those who eventually go to health facilities for delivery. According to the RMO, many maternal deaths caused largely by severe bleeding and complications during delivery can be prevented if mothers could reach health facilities on time for closer observation and safe delivery.

"I don't have any quarrels with traditional midwives, but I recommend to them that when a pregnant woman goes to them they should send them to a health facility for safe delivery," he added.

Dr Gurisha cited an incident that occurred recently where a mother died during delivery at the Rukwa Regional Hospital and the twins she was carrying later died as well because she was rushed to the hospital while it was too late after initially being taken to a traditional midwife.

A number of women interviewed in Kalambo, Sumbawanga and Nkasi districts on different occasions admitted to preferring the services of traditional midwives on grounds that they are more matured compared to those in hospitals and that in health facilities some midwives are male.

"It is true that during pregnancy we frequent clinics in large numbers for routine medical checkup and treatment but when it is time to deliver most of us prefer going to traditional midwives," said one Patricia Kantala, a mother of six.

Many women feel comfortable when attended to by elder women even if they have not received conventional training in the field compared to skilled yet younger midwives in hospitals.

• Tanzania