Women’s motivations for using traditional and faith-based birth attendants in urban South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Nigerian women's continued use of alternative healthcare providers for maternal healthcare is a cause of concern, especially in urban areas, where modern healthcare facilities are ubiquitous. The study objectives were to examine the characteristics of women using alternative healthcare providers, as well as investigate their motivations for using these providers' services. The qualitative study design was used to examine the motives behind the use of alternative healthcare providers for maternal healthcare purposes by urban women in two states in South West Nigeria, and clients' characteristics. In each state, data were collected from twenty clients of traditional and faith-based birth attendants using in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with NVivo software. Majority of the clients had secondary and higher education, were 25 +, were Christian, married and had at least one child previously. The motivations for use were the human angle to service delivery by these providers, affordable cost, and a generally favourable perception of the facilities and the services they provide. It is recommended that there should be greater collaboration with and monitoring of alternative healthcare providers' activities by the State Ministries of Health, as well as training health workers to be more humane in their service delivery.