This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
January 4, 2020, marked a turning point for Turkana County in Kenya as it began to adopt a traditional method of childbirth that has been practiced for generations.
Delivering while squatting has been a common practice among Turkana women, and it has been found to be more effective than lying on a bed. The practice has been passed down from one generation to the next, and it has been found to reduce the energy required for childbirth and shorten labor.
According to Ms. Anne Adung, a resident of Turkana, delivering while squatting saves a woman from using a lot of energy and going into long labor. The county government has introduced squatting stools in most of its health facilities to encourage women to adopt this method of childbirth.
Ms. Adung's own experience with childbirth is a testament to the effectiveness of this method. She delivered all her children at home, but her last born was born in a hospital where she had to ask to be taken to a squatting stool to facilitate delivery.
At least 75% of women who gave birth in 2016 in Turkana preferred home deliveries assisted by a relative and traditional birth attendants. However, this practice has been found to be risky, as it can lead to complications during childbirth. According to the National Council for Population and Development-2015 report, Turkana ranked third with 1,594 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and infant mortality was 140 deaths per 1000 live births.
However, after adopting the Karamoja state health facilities' practice of providing squatting stools in hospitals, Turkana County has seen a significant reduction in maternal and infant deaths. Hospital deliveries increased from 33% in 2016 to 65%, and the average number of deliveries per month has increased from 150 to 350.
According to Dr. Stephen Namoru Ekitela, the Director of Lodwar County Referral Hospital, the adoption of this practice has been a game-changer for the county. He attributes the reduction in maternal and infant deaths to the increased number of skilled deliveries and the availability of modern equipment in hospitals.
Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok has also praised the efforts of the county government in reducing maternal and infant deaths. He attributes the success to the increased number of doctors and the availability of modern equipment in hospitals.
