Occupational Health Awareness Among Traditional Birth Attendants in Rural Bauchi State

Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in rural Nigeria perform high-risk obstetric tasks with limited occupational health awareness, exposing them to bloodborne pathogens, physical injuries, and psychosocial stress. This study assessed occupational health awareness and practices among TBAs in rural communities of Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. A descriptive qualitative and quantitative mixed-methods design was employed. Focus group discussions were held with 60 TBAs across four rural communities, supplemented by an interviewer-administered questionnaire with 120 TBAs. Findings revealed that awareness of occupational health risks specific to birth attendance was critically low, with only 14.2 percent demonstrating familiarity with bloodborne pathogen transmission routes. Infection prevention practices, including glove use during deliveries, were consistently absent in 91.7 percent of reported cases. Sharp object injuries during childbirth assistance were reported by 63.3 percent of respondents. Psychosocial burden, including trauma from maternal and neonatal deaths, was expressed as a recurring theme in qualitative discussions. Despite their frontline role in rural obstetric care, TBAs received no formal occupational health orientation from state health authorities. The study urges the Bauchi State Ministry of Health to integrate occupational health training into TBA community integration programs, provide sterile delivery kits, and establish referral networks that support both maternal and TBA health outcomes. Keywords: traditional birth attendants, occupational health, infection prevention, bloodborne pathogens, Bauchi State.