Perceptions of midwives working in urban health care centers on the use of herbs in labour; a case of Gweru

There has been an increase in the number of women taking herbs then go and deliver in urban health care centers. The midwives manning these institutions have no formal training in traditional medicines hence are least prepared for the outcomes. The aim of the study was to establish the perceptions of the midwives working in urban health care centers on the use of herbs in labour. The study adopted a qualitative approach with interviews and focus group discussions as the data collection instruments. The research was carried out in four urban health care centers offering maternity services and these were Clay bank Clinic, Mkoba Poly Clinic, Mtapa clinic and Gweru hospital. Purposive sampling technique was done to midwives working in Maternity departments as they are the ones who met the women who would have taken the herbs. A focus group discussion was done with midwives who had attended a peri-natal mortality meeting at Gweru Hospital. The data obtained was thematically analysed to bring out the perceptions of the midwives providing health care in urban environments. The findings revealed that the midwives believed that the herbs were effective in speeding up labour but felt that their pharmacokinetics needed to be studied. They also noted that the herbs were dangerous in women with obstetric complication. The midwives were bothered by the fact that the women did not confide in them the use of herbs until complication occurred. The study concluded that, there are still myths surrounding the use of herbs the herbs need to be scientifically tested. In addition the mistrust and judgemental attitude of the midwives hampers proper nursing assessment resulting in mismanagement. It is recommended that observation and documentation be made on the effects of the herbs so that this would be the basis of scientific testing of the herbs. The midwives also need to be sensitive and understanding to the practices of their clients so that they open up and thus enable early interventions and scientific enquiry.