Interview with Maasai Women about health care service You Tube

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• published: 23 May 2014
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Hello I am Ada. I am here with Massai women. The Massais are semi-nomadic pastoralists. The cattle are fundamental to the tribe's survival. Cattle are a major sign of wealth and exchanged during marriage to pay for brides. Maasai huts are very small, with perhaps two rooms and not enough height for these tall people to stand upright or lie fully stretched. The huts are very dark with a small door-way and tiny hole in the roof. Maasai women look after the young children, milk the cattle, repair the huts, collect fire-wood, prepare the food and may need to travel many miles to fetch water. The Maasai are a proud and independent people who have survived despite incredible pressures of losing their grazing land and their ability to roam freely throughout the country. The land is taken from them either for commercial large-scale wheat-growing or other cultivation, or for wildlife conservation. Most of the time land is sold by men without the knowledge of their wives. Men go to towns, sells cows or work, have relationships with town women and bring the virus home. I asked them their knowledge and experience about reproductive health services. These women have not heard of condoms or negotiating for safe sex. They struggle and suffer only for the love of their children. Saadiya went to antenatal clinic where she saw a midwife she had not met before. Saadiya was not greeted by name but simply asked to lie on the examination couch. Although midwife asked Saadiya about her health, but she did not ask about her other needs. As a result, Saadiya's anxieties about being thrown out of her home due to HIV infection were not discussed. The midwife gave no explanation on how to take care of herself and baby during pregnancy but said there was no reason to be worried and gave her a date for the next appointment. Midwife did not show empathy towards Saadiya. No trustworthy relationship developed between midwife and Saadiya. Saadiya did not take further medical assistance. Unfortunately she lost her baby. Akina and her husband attended an antenatal clinic for the first time. She wanted to know about diet, exercise, sex and working habits during her pregnancy. The midwife was very helpful and referred her to antenatal classes. Akina was very excited about being pregnant and wanted to enjoy her pregnancy. She played an active role in her health management. She delivered healthy baby and her health was also good. Dafina teenager mother, went to a local clinic to have a pregnancy test as she had missed her period for two months. Her pregnancy was confirmed. She was told to book for antenatal care classes when she reached 20 weeks of gestation. However, when she returned to book her appointment there was a long queue. After waiting all morning, Dafina was asked to come back the next day. When she was finally seen, the healthcare staffs were rude. Dafina noticed that healthcare staffs appeared uninterested in the care of her pregnancy. Are these incidents sound familiar to you? The issues like lack of basic needs at home, deprived of proper education and information, lack of friendly healthcare services during the pregnancy and after birth, the spread of HIV and AIDs, a topic that most women do not feel comfortable talking about are forcing many women to die during childbirth. We can prevent more than 90% of maternal and neonatal deaths by providing needy and under privileged women an easy access to maternal health related information to empower themselves. Mother friendly antenatal care where the best interests of the woman and her fetus during the pregnancy should be considered above the hospital or clinic staff is essential for Maasai women.