Traditional Birth Attendants in Postpartum Care: A Comparative Study within Ethiopia's Ethiopian Highlands

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) play a significant role in postpartum care within communities of the Ethiopian Highlands. This study aims to evaluate their contributions and compare them with formal healthcare providers. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including interviews with TBAs and healthcare providers, focus group discussions with community members, and a survey among women who recently gave birth. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. TBAs reported higher levels of knowledge about traditional healing practices compared to formal healthcare workers, but both groups struggled with providing consistent health education on modern postpartum care measures such as immunization and nutrition. The study highlights the complementary roles TBAs can play in community-based maternal health programmes. Further research should explore how to integrate TBA knowledge into formal healthcare delivery models effectively. Community health workers should collaborate with local TBAs to ensure comprehensive postpartum care, focusing on bridging traditional and modern medical knowledge gaps. Policy-makers should consider funding mechanisms that support this integration.