Dorwie Florence M, Pacquiao Dula F
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
J Transcult Nurs. 2014 Jan;25(1):33-41. doi: 10.1177/1043659613503874. Epub 2013 Oct 1.
Describe practices of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in assisting women in childbirth and the perceptions of TBAs by mothers and health professionals familiar with their work.
Qualitative design using focus groups conducted in urban and rural settings in Sierra Leone. Separate audiotaped focus groups conducted for each group of participants lasting between 45 and 90 minutes.
Purposive sample of 20 TBAs, 20 mothers, and 10 health professionals who met the following criteria: (a) at least 18 years of age, (b) TBAs currently practicing, (c) mothers who delivered at least one child assisted by a TBA, and (d) health professionals currently practicing in the hospital and familiar with TBA practices.
TBAs are valued by mothers, health professionals, and the community because they provide accessible and affordable care to mothers who may otherwise have no access to health services. TBAs need training, supervision, and resources for effective referral of mothers. Systemic problems in the health care system create enormous barriers to effective care for mothers and children independent of TBA practices that contribute to high maternal and infant mortality rates. The study findings have implications on broad public policy in improving maternal and child health in the country.
描述传统助产士在协助妇女分娩方面的做法，以及母亲和熟悉其工作的卫生专业人员对传统助产士的看法。
采用定性设计，在塞拉利昂的城市和农村地区进行焦点小组访谈。为每组参与者分别进行录音焦点小组访谈，时长在45至90分钟之间。
采用目的抽样法选取20名传统助产士、20名母亲和10名卫生专业人员，他们需符合以下标准：（a）年龄至少18岁；（b）目前仍在执业的传统助产士；（c）至少有一个孩子由传统助产士协助分娩的母亲；（d）目前在医院执业且熟悉传统助产士做法的卫生专业人员。
传统助产士受到母亲、卫生专业人员和社区的重视，因为他们为那些原本可能无法获得医疗服务的母亲提供了可及且负担得起的护理。传统助产士需要培训、监督以及资源，以便有效地将母亲转诊。医疗保健系统中的系统性问题给母亲和儿童的有效护理造成了巨大障碍，这与传统助产士的做法无关，而这些问题导致了高孕产妇和婴儿死亡率。研究结果对该国改善孕产妇和儿童健康的广泛公共政策具有启示意义。
