Community Beliefs Towards the Safety of Biomedical Child Birth Services: A Case of Simanjiro, Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction: Despite of the criticism from biomedical researchers regarding the effectiveness of traditional childbirth services and the ongoing efforts to promote biomedical childbirth services, many women in Simanjiro Tanzania continue to give birth at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants. Given that Simanjiro is a predominantly traditional pastoralist community, the continued preference for traditional childbirth services raises interest in understanding community beliefs about the safety of biomedical childbirth services compared to traditional practices. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the beliefs of the Simanjiro community towards the safety of biomedical child birth services compared to traditional child birth services. Methods: A qualitative, cross-sectional study guided by the constructivist paradigm was conducted within the particular community (Simanjiro District, Manyara Tanzania), from July to August 2025. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving women, men, traditional birth attendants, and community health workers as the study participants in order to capture diverse perspectives. Data analysis was carried out thematically using NVivo Version 15 software. Key Findings: Traditional child birth services were widely perceived as safe and reliable for normal child deliveries, while biomedical child birth services were considered necessary mainly for emergencies. Trust in perceived spiritual power of the traditional birth attendants, cultural taboos surrounding women’s privacy, fears of harmful spiritual influences in hospital settings, and adherence to traditional dietary practices reinforced confidence in traditional child birth services. Conclusions: While traditional child birth services are considered to be safe, reliance on them perceived to delay access to skilled biomedical care during complications, posing risks to maternal and newborn health. Therefore, the study emphasizes the need for further research seeking how to integrate traditional and biomedical care, ensuring cultural sensitivity, and enhancing the perceived safety of biomedical child birth services.