Indigenous practices of women during pregnancy, labour, and puerperium amongst cultural groupings at selected hospitals in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Indigenous practices are performances that occur naturally in a region or a growing living environment. Most women believe in indigenous practices because of their cultures and social structure. In South Africa regardless of the availability and accessibility of maternal and child health services, 50% of women were found that they still consult traditional birth attendants as their first choice during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and postnatal care. The purpose of the study was to determine the indigenous practices of women during pregnancy, labour and puerperium amongst cultural groupings at selected hospitals in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A Convergent parallel mixed method design was used in the study to collect both qualitative and quantitative data at the same time. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 15 participants and Probability simple random sampling was used to select 125 women who were pregnant, in labour and puerperium using slovin’s formula. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview with a guide for qualitative strand and a self-administered structured questionnaire for quantitative srtand. Data were analysed qualitatively using tech’s open coding method and quantitatively using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 with the assistance of the University of Limpopo’s Bio-statistician. The results of the study showed that most women use indigeneous practices for protection against witchcraft, fear of giving birth in caesarian section and many other reasons.THPs and church leaders are regarded as the most principled people in their community. Indigenous women are aware of the sign and symptoms during pregnancy, labour, and puerperium which may determine consultation to healthcare practitioners, but they choose THPs and church leaders. Most women still rely on their religious beliefs to assist during their labour. Pregnant women, those in labour and puerperium should be supported to practice their religious beliefs and practices. THPs and church leaders are obliged to teach their clients and ensure that they know the names and components of the traditional medicines and church rituals they use.The nursing education should include indigenous practices in the curriculum so, that healthcare practitioners know about the indigenous practices and can serve as assistance in the training and development of health practitioners who continuously care for women during pregnancy, labour, and puerperium and as a result, may reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Limpopo Province, South Africa.