Traditional Way of Maternal and Child Health Care in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

For all ages all over India, the traditional birth attendant (TBA) commonly known as ‘dai’ has been playing a significant role in providing maternal and child health (MCH) services. It is estimated that there are over 6 million dais in India who attend to about 80 percent of all births (1, 2). In rural as well as in urban and semi- urban areas, people depend on them for MCH services. Although more and more health staff has been added and posted in rural areas, the dai has remained indispensable and conducts most of the deliveries even in places where lady physicians and other female health staff had been posted. Besides the traditional dai, elderly women of the house are also capable of conducting delivery. In remote villages of South India and among nomads, it is quite common to see female members and neighbors conduct the deliveries (3, 4). The traditional birth practices are dependent on the attitude and practices of the dai and hence it would be worthwhile to describe them.