Women’s use of non-conventional herbal uterotonic in pregnancy and labour: evidence from birth attendants

Joshua Sumankuuro; Leonard Baatiema; Judith Crockett; Jeanine Young

doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04934-2

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Women’s use of non-conventional herbal uterotonic in pregnancy and labour: evidence from birth attendants

Journal article

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Women’s use of non-conventional herbal uterotonic in pregnancy and labour: evidence from birth attendants

Joshua Sumankuuro, Leonard Baatiema, Judith Crockett and Jeanine Young

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Vol.22(1), pp.1-12

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04934-2

PMCID: PMC9327204

PMID: 35896986

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Herbal uterotonics

Low-and middle-income settings

Maternal and neonatal health

Pregnancy and childbirth

Traditional birth attendants

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Background: Over the years, governments and stakeholders have implemented various policies/programmes to improve maternal health outcomes in low-middle-income countries. In Ghana, Community Health Officers were trained as midwives to increase access to skilled maternal healthcare. The government subsequently banned traditional birth attendants from providing direct maternal healthcare in 2000. Despite these, there is an unprecedented utilisation of TBAs' services, including herbal uterotonics. This has attempted to defeat stakeholders' campaigns to improve maternal health outcomes. Thus, we explored and highlighted herbal uterotonic consumption in pregnancy and birth and the implications on maternal and newborn health outcomes in North-Western Ghana. Methods: This was an exploratory qualitative study that investigated traditional birth attendants (n = 17) and healthcare providers' (n = 26) perspectives on the intake of herbal uterotonics in pregnancy and childbirth in rural Ghana, using in-depth interviews. A combination of convenience, purposive and snowball sampling procedures were employed in selecting participants. Results: Findings were captured in two domains: (1) perceived rationale for herbal uterotonic intake, and (2) potential adverse impacts of herbal uterotonic intake in pregnancy and labour, and nine topics: (i) confidence in unskilled attendance at birth, (ii) cost and a shortage of essential medicines, (iii) herbal uterotonics as a remedy for obstetric problems, (iv) herbal uterotonics facilitate birth, (v) attraction of home birth for cultural reasons, (vi) affordability of herbal uterotonics, (vii) unintended consequences and adverse outcomes, (viii) risks using herbal uterotonics to manage fertility and (ix) risks using herbal uterotonics to facilitate home birth. Conclusion: The findings have suggested that the intake of non-conventional herbal uterotonic is widespread in the study area, although the constituents of the herb are unknown. However, complex and multiple factors of healthcare cost, desire for homebirth, unawareness of the negative effects of such substances, perceived way of addressing obstetric problems and cultural undertones, among others, accounted for herbal uterotonics consumption. We also encourage research into the constituents of 'mansugo' and the potential benefits and adverse effects. We recommend qualitative studies involving previous users of this herbal uterotonic to inform policy and healthcare provision.

Details

Title: Women’s use of non-conventional herbal uterotonic in pregnancy and labour: evidence from birth attendants
Authors: Joshua Sumankuuro (Corresponding Author) - Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
Leonard Baatiema (Author) - University of Ghana
Judith Crockett (Author) - Charles Sturt University
Jeanine Young (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy
Publication details: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Vol.22(1), pp.1-12
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04934-2
ISSN: 1471-2393
PMID: 35896986; PMC9327204
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nursing; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99661597802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Obstetrics & Gynecology

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