Husbands and tradition: the socio-cultural determinants of home birth in Maradun, Zamfara, Nigeria
Keywords:
Husband, traditions, Home Birth, Maternal Health and Socio-Cultural DeterminantsAbstract
This study investigates the socio-cultural, economic, and logistical determinants of home birth in Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 303 women of reproductive age was conducted and analyzed through the lens of the Three Delays Model. The findings reveal that home birth is a rational, culturally-sanctioned choice rather than a mere default. The most significant barrier is "Delay 1"-the decision to seek care- which is dominated by patriarchal control, with husbands (64.36%) and mothers-in-law (25.08%) being the primary decision-makers, while the woman herself decides in less than 10% of cases. This is reinforced by a deeply embedded cultural norm where home is perceived as "spiritually safer" (75.58%) and community views strongly favor home birth as "normal" (64.03%). "Delay 2" (reaching a facility) is driven by severe economic precarity, where the predictable, low-cost system of Traditional Birth Attendants is a financial necessity for 71.61% of women with no or low income, compounded by a reliance on precarious transportation. The study concludes that single-focus interventions are inadequate. It recommends a multi-pronged strategy: directly engaging male and elder decision-makers in health education, formally integrating TBAs into the health system, and implementing robust subsidies for transport and services to make facility-based delivery a viable and respected choice.Downloads
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