Traditional birth influence in HIV/AIDS (in Bucula community - Ngqeleni: Eastern Cape)
Date
2005-12
Authors
Madayi-Ndabeni, Nosipho Portia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Traditional birth practices and HIV/AIDS infections usually reflect the standard of health. They are probably the best measures of the general socio-economic conditions of the society. There is a worldwide indication that the slow-down of HIV/AIDS infection and traditional birth practices is an indication of an improvement in the healthcare and strategic management of the infectious diseases.
It has been noted that even a developing country like Kenya has managed to slow down HIV/AIDS pandemic. This case needs more attention from the politicians as authorities to declare HIV/AIDS a natural disaster.
Twenty households were randomly selected for the collection of data in the form of questionnaire and oral interviews, due to high illiteracy in the community. A direct method of estimation was used to determine the level of mortality rate and HIV/AIDS infection rate among the mothers and babies.
It was found that most of the infections and deaths were caused by the cultural practices, beliefs in Witch doctors and traditional healers, lack of education, low socio-economic status, ignorance and inaccessibility of healthcare centres.
High mortality rate due to traditional birth and HIV/AIDS infection was confirmed by the Canzibe hospital, reports reflect HIV/AIDS infections to the mothers and their babies taken to hospital for inspection after complicated deliveries.
The community leader reported that most women who died were in their early twenties and mid-thirties except few old women aged between 50and 60 that died due to same sickness as their daughters and daughters-in-law. A community leader confirmed that their children usually die first before they reach age five. That was just estimation; no accurate ages were given because of illiteracy problems.
Finally recommendations were made to minimise death rate and HIV/AIDS infection through traditional birth. Training of the traditional midwives, mothers on breast-feeding and on how mother to child transmission occurs is required. Gender inequality and rural economic empowerment should be addressed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die konflik tussen en gevaar verbonde aan tradisionel geboortepraktyke en die verspreiding van MIV/Vigs word in die artikel onder die soeklig geplaas. 'n Steekproef van 20 huishoudings is vir die studie gebruik en inligting is ingesamel deur middel van 'n gestruktureerde vraelys. Resultate dui daarop dat, veral in die landelike gebiede met lae vlakke van geskooldheid, tradisionele geboortepraktyke nog steeds vrylik beoefen word en dat dit 'n beduidende verspreider van die MIV-virus is van moeder na pasgebore kind is. Ondanks die skynbare konflik tussen tradisie en moderne gesondheidpraktyke word praktiese voorstelle gedoen om hierdie probleem te probeer aanspreek.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die konflik tussen en gevaar verbonde aan tradisionel geboortepraktyke en die verspreiding van MIV/Vigs word in die artikel onder die soeklig geplaas. 'n Steekproef van 20 huishoudings is vir die studie gebruik en inligting is ingesamel deur middel van 'n gestruktureerde vraelys. Resultate dui daarop dat, veral in die landelike gebiede met lae vlakke van geskooldheid, tradisionele geboortepraktyke nog steeds vrylik beoefen word en dat dit 'n beduidende verspreider van die MIV-virus is van moeder na pasgebore kind is. Ondanks die skynbare konflik tussen tradisie en moderne gesondheidpraktyke word praktiese voorstelle gedoen om hierdie probleem te probeer aanspreek.
Description
Assignment (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
Keywords
Theses -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology