A STUDY OF PRACTICES FOR PROMOTING SAFE DELIVERY AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD-BEARING AGE RANGE IN BADEKU-JAGO COMMUNITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH EDUCATION

Abstract

Pregnant women need special care because complications are common during pregnancy. It is known that medical facilities are mainly concentrated in urban areas leaving rural communities with little or none. In spite of this limitation, women become pregnant, maintain their pregnancies to term and eventually deliver safely. Therefore, it would be beneficial to find out how rural women take care of themselves when they are pregnant. This information would be useful to guide those who are responsible for providing and developing health care facilities. This study was designed to explore what care is available for women in the child-bearing age group in Badeku and Jago and how they meet this need. A sample of the population was interviewed to find out what they knew and did about their pregnancies. In addition, all the traditional practitioners that are known in Badeku-Jago community were interviewed to determine the part they played in the care of pregnant women; if any. The respondents were also observed during the interviews using interview check-lists. The findings revealed that although many pregnant women attend maternity centres they eventually delivered at home. The study also showed that many were given, and had taken native medicine, especially in treating malaria fever. In addition, many of the traditional practitioners claimed that they made use of incantations during the delivery process to ensure trouble-free delivery. The study had shown that some of practices which some of the pregnant women, as well as some of the traditional practitioners indulge in are beneficial while some may easily be harmful. Recommendations to encourage those that beneficial and discourage the harmful ones have been made.