Story
Peer support promotes maternal and newborn health in Kenya
March 25, 2024
The purpose of this study was to analyze community perceptions in Kakamga County, Kenya, on the shifting role of traditional birth attendants to that of nutrition advocates and birth companions in health facilities, as well as the impact this change has had on deliveries in health facilities.
Key informant interviews with health workers and focus groups with a variety of stakeholders including pregnant women, community leaders, traditional birth attendants and others, were conducted. Once the qualitative information was gathered, content analysis was undertaken to organize data and produce results utilizing Atlas.ti software.
The findings highlighted that the uptake of traditional birth attendants as companions, and deliveries conducted in health facilities increased. However, the adoption of nutrition advocacy by traditional birth attendants was slow or insufficient. This area should be improved to provide mothers and community members with greater access to nutrition information.