Traditional Birth Attendants in Rural Ethiopian Health Facilities: A Comprehensive Impact Assessment

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) play a significant role in rural healthcare settings, particularly in Ethiopia where access to formal medical services is limited. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative data collection through surveys administered among mothers who utilised TBA services. TBAs reported a success rate of 85% in managing normal deliveries without complications. However, there were gaps identified in the provision of essential antenatal care and postnatal support. The findings suggest that while TBAs are effective at managing routine births, their role should be expanded to include more comprehensive health interventions for mothers and newborns. Rural health facilities need to collaborate with TBAs to ensure they have the necessary training and resources to provide a wider range of services. Additionally, policy makers should consider integrating TBA practices into formal healthcare protocols. Traditional Birth Attendants, Rural Ethiopia, Maternal Health, Neonatal Outcomes Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.