Journal of Traditional Medical Complementary Therapies

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Traditional Midwifery From Past to Present: Amasya-Tokat, Turkey Sample
Geçmişten Günümüze Geleneksel Ebelik: Amasya, Tokat Örneği
Duygu MURAT ÖZTÜRKa
aDepartment of Midwifery, Amasya University Faculty of Health Sciences, Amasya, TURKEY
J Tradit Complem Med. 2021;4(2):203-9
doi: 10.5336/jtracom.2020-79754
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: This research aims to determine the views of traditional midwives in Amasya and Tokat regions about their past midwifery experiences. Material and Methods: The research is a qualitative one and a content analysis was conducted in line with the aims. A digitization concern was not aroused from the qualitative data obtained. The research was carried out in the central villages of Amasya and Turhal district villages of Tokat province. The data were collected by using in-depth interviews with 7 women who had been midwives in the past. The interviews were conducted by a single researcher. Results: Traditional midwives gave information about their practices about the profession, family planning, pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. It contains information about how they started their profession, where they learned midwifery and why they did this profession. They said that they learned by themselves and even had this experience at their first birth. They mostly made explanations about birth. Statements are common for the birthing position, although they mention different practices regarding the practices they perform during childbirth. They stated that they gave birth in sitting, squatting and semi-sitting positions. One of the important data is that only the traditional midwife who went to school until the 3rd grade at that time kept a record book. Conclusion: It is seen that women expressed that they do this job to help women. Traditional midwives, respecting the physiological natural process of labor, express that they give birth in upright positions such as squatting, especially during delivery. However, unlike current midwifery services, traditional midwives seem to focus only on childbirth.

Keywords: Midwife; traditional birth attendants; traditional midwife
ÖZET
 Amaç: Bu çalışmayla, Amasya ve Tokat bölgesinde bulunan geleneksel ebelerin, geçmişte ebelik yapma durumlarıyla ilgili görüşlerinin saptanması amaçlanmaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma, Amasya merkez ve Tokat'ın Turhal ilçelerindeki köylerde yapılmıştır. Veriler, geçmişte ebelik yapmış 7 kadın ile derinlemesine mülakat yöntemi uygulanarak toplanmıştır. Görüşmeler tek bir araştırmacı tarafından uygulanmıştır. Nitel bir çalışma olan bu araştırmada, amaçlar doğrultusunda içerik analizi yapılmıştır. Elde edilen nitel verilerden bir sayısallaştırma kaygısı güdülmemiştir. Bulgular: Geleneksel ebeler meslek, aile planlaması, hamilelik, doğum ve doğum sonrası dönem hakkında yaptıkları uygulamalara dair bilgi vermişlerdir. Meslekle ilgili olarak mesleğe nasıl başladıklarına, ebeliği nerede öğrendiklerine ve bu mesleği neden yaptıklarına dair bilgiler yer almaktadır. Kendi kendilerine öğrendiklerini ve hatta bu deneyimi ilk doğumlarında yaşadıklarını söylemişlerdir. Çoğunlukla doğumla ilgili açıklamalarda bulunmuşlardır. Doğum sırasında yaptıkları uygulamalarla ilgili farklı uygulamalardan bahsetmelerine rağmen doğum pozisyonu için ifadeler ortaktır. Oturma, çömelme ve yarı oturma pozisyonlarında doğum yaptırdıklarını belirtmişlerdir. Önemli verilerden birisi o dönemde sadece ilkokul 3. sınıfa kadar okula giden geleneksel ebenin kayıt defteri tutuyor olmasıdır. Sonuç: Kadınların bu işi kadınlara yardım etmek için yaptığını ifade ettikleri görülmektedir. Geleneksel ebeler, doğumun fizyolojik doğal sürecine saygı göstererek, özellikle doğum anında hamile kadınları yürüttükleri, çömelme gibi dik pozisyonlarda doğum yaptırdıklarını ifade etmektedirler. Bununla birlikte, mevcut ebelik hizmetlerinden farklı olarak, geleneksel ebelerin sadece doğuma odaklandıkları görülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Ebe; geleneksel doğum refakatçisi; geleneksel ebe
REFERENCES:
  1. Drife J. The start of life: a history of obstetrics. Postgrad Med J. 2002;78(919):311-5. [PubMed]  [PMC] 
  2. Seamen B, Eldigre L, eds. Bora A, Akşit EE, Coşar S, Tokdoğan N, Şimşek B, Aydınlıgil S, çeviri editörleri. Kadın Sağlığı Hareketinden Sesler. Cadılar, Ebeler, Hemşireler: Kadın Şifacıların Tarihi. 1st ed. Ankara: AYizi; 2014. p.22-45. [Link] 
  3. Royal College of Midwives [Internet]. The History of Midwifery-How Far We've Come Available from: [Link]  (Accessed: 01.10.2020)
  4. World Health Organization. Traditional birth attendants: a joint WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF statement. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1992. [Link] 
  5. Resmî Gazete (11/4/1928, 1219) 863 sayılı Tababet ve Şuabatı San'atlarının Tarzı İcrasına Dair Kanun; 1928. cited: 10.10.2020 Available from: [Link] 
  6. International Definition of the Midwife. Core Document International Definition of the Midwife. 2017. Cited: 10.10.2020. Available from: [Link] 
  7. Dietsch E, Mulimbalimba-Masururu L. Learning lessons from a traditional midwifery workforce in western Kenya. Midwifery. 2011;27(3):324-30. [PubMed] 
  8. Turinawe EB, Rwemisisi JT, Musinguzi LK, de Groot M, Muhangi D, de Vries DH, et al. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) as potential agents in promoting male involvement in maternity preparedness: insights from a rural community in Uganda. Reproductive Health. 2016;13(1):1-11. [Link] 
  9. Jiang H, Qian X, Chen L, Li J, Escobar E, Story M, et al. Towards universal access to skilled birth attendance: the process of transforming the role of traditional birth attendants in Rural China. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2016;16(1):1-9. [Link] 
  10. Erer MT, Can D. Mersin ilinde bir kadın şifacı [A woman healer in Mersin]. Lokman Hekim Journal. 2017;7(2):82-90. [Link] 
  11. Yıldırım G, Şahin SA. Halk ebelerinin doğum hazırlığı ve eylemi sırasındaki uygulamalarının modern tıp ve tarihi tıp kaynaklarındaki uygulamalarla karşılaştırılması. [Comparison of public midwives' practices during the preparation of labor and birth with practices stated in modern and ancient medicine resources]. National Folklor International and Quarterly Journal of Cultural Studies. 2014;26(103). [Link] 
  12. Morse JM. Determining Simple Size, Qualitative Health Research. 2000;10(1):3-5. [Crossref] 
  13. Kabalcıoğlu F, Kurçer MA. Niteliksel bir araştırma: Şanlıurfa'da geleneksel ebeler ve doğuma yönelik geleneksel yöntemleri [A qualitative study: Traditional midwives and their traditional delivery methods in Şanlıurfa, Turkey]. Journal of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;18(6):377-82. [Link] 
  14. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Nüfus Etütleri Enstitüsü. Türkiye Nüfus ve Sağlık Araştırması. Ankara: Elma Teknik Basım Matbaacılık; 2018. cited: 10.10.2020. Available from: [Link] 
  15. Owolabi OO, Glenton C, Lewin S, Pakenham-Walsh N. Stakeholder views on the incorporation of traditional birth attendants into the formal health systems of low-and middle-income countries: a qualitative analysis of the HIFA2015 and CHILD2015 email discussion forums. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14:118. [PubMed]  [PMC] 
  16. Sarker BK, Rahman M, Rahman T, Hossain J, Reichenbach L, Mitra DK. Reasons for Preference of Home Delivery with Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Rural Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration. PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0146161. [PubMed]  [PMC] 
  17. Rishworth A, Dixon J, Luginaah I, Mkandawire P, Prince CT. "I was on the way to the hospital but delivered in the bush": Maternal health in Ghana's Upper West Region in the context of a traditional birth attendants' ban. Social Science and Medicine. 2016;148:8-17. [Link] 
  18. Byrne A, Caulfield T, Onyo P, Nyagero J, Morgan A, Nduba J, Kermode M. Community and provider perceptions of traditional and skilled birth attendants providing maternal health care for pastoralist communities in Kenya: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16:43. [PubMed]  [PMC] 
  19. Oshonwoh Ferdinand, E, Nwakwuo Geoffrey C, Ekiyor Christopher P. Traditional birth attendants and women's health practices: A case study of Patani in Southern Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology. 2014;6:252-61. [Link] 
  20. Yıldırım G, Işık T. Kayseri ilinde bir halk şifacısı [A woman healer in Kayseri]. Folklore/Literature. 2014;20(78):239-52. [Link] 

.: Up To Date

Login

 Forgot your password?

 New Registration  

Contact

Ortadoğu Reklam Tanıtım Yayıncılık Turizm Eğitim İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.

.: Address

Turkocagi Caddesi No:30 06520 Balgat / ANKARA
Phone: +90 312 286 56 56
Fax: +90 312 220 04 70
E-mail: info@turkiyeklinikleri.com

.: Manuscript Editing Department

Phone: +90 312 286 56 56/ 2
E-mail: yaziisleri@turkiyeklinikleri.com

.: English Language Redaction

Phone: +90 312 286 56 56/ 145
E-mail: tkyayindestek@turkiyeklinikleri.com

.: Marketing Sales-Project Department

Phone: +90 312 286 56 56/ 142
E-mail: reklam@turkiyeklinikleri.com

.: Subscription and Public Relations Department

Phone: +90 312 286 56 56/ 118
E-mail: abone@turkiyeklinikleri.com

.: Customer Services

Phone: +90 312 286 56 56/ 118
E-mail: satisdestek@turkiyeklinikleri.com

1. TERMS OF USE

1.1. To use the web pages with http://www.turkiyeklinikleri.com domain name or the websites reached through the sub domain names attached to the domain name (They will be collectively referred as "SITE"), please read the conditions below. If you do not accept these terms, please cease to use the "SITE." "SITE" owner reserves the right to change the information on the website, forms, contents, the "SITE," "SITE" terms of use anytime they want.

1.2. The owner of the "SITE" is Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc. (From now on it is going to be referred as "Turkiye Klinikleri", shortly) and it resides at Turkocagi cad. No:30, 06520 Balgat Ankara. The services in the "SITE" are provided by "Turkiye Klinikleri."

1.3. Anyone accessing the "SITE" with or without a fee whether they are a natural person or a legal identity is considered to agree these terms of use. In this contract hereby, "Turkiye Klinikleri" may change the stated terms anytime. These changes will be published in the "SITE" periodically and they will be valid when they are published. Any natural person or legal identity benefiting from and reaching to the "SITE" are considered to be agreed to any change on hereby contract terms done by "Turkiye Klinikleri."

1.4. The "Terms of Use" hereby is published in the website with the last change on March 30th 2014 and the "SITE" is activated by enabling the access to everyone. The "Terms of Use" hereby is also a part of the any "USER Contract" was and/or will be done with the users using "Turkiye Klinikleri" services with or without a fee an inseparable.

2. DEFINITIONS

2.1. "SITE": A website offering different kind of services and context with a certain frame determined by "Turkiye Klinikleri" and it is accessible on-line on http://www.turkiyeklinikleri.com domain name and/or subdomains connected to the domain name.

2.2. USER: A natural person or a legal identity accessing to the "SITE" through online settings.

2.3. LINK: A link enabling to access to another website through the "SITE", the files, the context or through another website to the "SITE", the files and the context.

2.4. CONTEXT: Any visual, literary and auditory images published in the "Turkiye Klinikleri", "SITE" and/or any website or any accessible information, file, picture, number/figures, price, etc.

2.5. "USER CONTRACT": An electronically signed contract between a natural or a legal identity benefiting from special services "Turkiye Klinikleri" will provide and "Turkiye Klinikleri".

3. SCOPE OF THE SERVICES

3.1. "Turkiye Klinikleri" is completely free to determine the scope and quality of the services via the "SITE".

3.2. To benefit the services of "Turkiye Klinikleri" "SITE", the "USER" must deliver the features that will be specified by "Turkiye Klinikleri". "Turkiye Klinikleri" may change this necessity any time single-sided.

3.3. Not for a limited number, the services "Turkiye Klinikleri" will provide through the "SITE" for a certain price or for free are;

- Providing scientific articles, books and informative publications for health industry.

- Providing structural, statistical and editorial support to article preparation stage for scientific journals.

4. GENERAL PROVISIONS

4.1. "Turkiye Klinikleri" is completely free to determine which of the services and contents provided in the "SITE" will be charged.

4.2. People benefiting from the services provided by "Turkiye Klinikleri" and using the website can use the "SITE" only according to the law and only for personal reasons. Users have the criminal and civil liability for every process and action they take in the "SITE". Every USER agrees, declares and undertakes that they will not proceed by any function or action infringement of rights of "Turkiye Klinikleri"s and/or other third parties', they are the exclusive right holder on usage, processing, storage, made public and revealing any written, visual or auditory information reported to Turkiye Klinikleri" and/or "SITE" to the third parties. "USER" agrees and undertakes that s/he will not duplicate, copy, distribute, process, the pictures, text, visual and auditory images, video clips, files, databases, catalogs and lists within the "SITE", s/he will not be using these actions or with other ways to compete with "Turkiye Klinikleri", directly or indirectly.

4.3. The services provided and the context published within the "SITE" by third parties is not under the responsibility of "Turkiye Klinikleri", institutions collaborated with "Turkiye Klinikleri", "Turkiye Klinikleri" employee and directors, "Turkiye Klinikleri" authorized salespeople. Commitment to accuracy and legality of the published information, context, visual and auditory images provided by any third party are under the full responsibility of the third party. "Turkiye Klinikleri" does not promise and guarantee the safety, accuracy and legality of the services and context provided by a third party.

4.4. "USER"s cannot act against "Turkiye Klinikleri", other "USER"s and third parties by using the "SITE". "Turkiye Klinikleri" has no direct and/or indirect responsibility for any damage a third party suffered or will suffer regarding "USER"s actions on the "SITE" against the rules of the hereby "Terms of Use" and the law.

4.5. "USER"s accept and undertake that the information and context they provided to the "SITE" are accurate and legal. "Turkiye Klinikleri" is not liable and responsible for promising and guaranteeing the verification of the information and context transmitted to "Turkiye Klinikleri" by the "USER"s, or uploaded, changed and provided through the "SITE" by them and whether these information are safe, accurate and legal.

4.6. "USER"s agree and undertake that they will not perform any action leading to unfair competition, weakening the personal and commercial credit of "Turkiye Klinikleri" and a third party,  encroaching and attacking on personal rights within the "SITE" in accordance with the Turkish Commercial Code Law.

4.7. "Turkiye Klinikleri" reserves the right to change the services and the context within the "SITE"  anytime. "Turkiye Klinikleri" may use this right without any notification and timelessly. "USER"s have to make the changes and/or corrections "Turkiye Klinikleri" required immediately. Any changes and/or corrections that are required by "Turkiye Klinikleri", may be made by "Turkiye Klinikleri" when needed. Any harm, criminal and civil liability resulted or will result from changes and/or corrections required by "Turkiye Klinikleri" and were not made on time by the "USER"s belongs completely to the users.

4.8. "Turkiye Klinikleri" may give links through the "SITE" to other websites and/or "CONTEXT"s and/or folders that are outside of their control and owned and run by third parties. These links are provided for ease of reference only and do not hold qualification for support the respective web SITE or the admin or declaration or guarantee for the information inside. "Turkiye Klinikleri" does not hold any responsibility over the web-sites connected through the links on the "SITE", folders and context, the services or products on the websites provided through these links or their context.

4.9. "Turkiye Klinikleri" may use the information provided to them by the "USERS" through the "SITE" in line with the terms of the "PRIVACY POLICY" and "USER CONTRACT". It may process the information or classify and save them on a database. "Turkiye Klinikleri" may also use the USER's or visitor's identity, address, e-mail address, phone number, IP number, which sections of the "SITE" they visited, domain type, browser type, date and time information to provide statistical evaluation and customized services.

5. PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

5.1. The information accessed through this "SITE" or provided by the users legally and all the elements (including but not limited to design, text, image, html code and other codes) of the "SITE" (all of them will be called as studies tied to "Turkiye Klinikleri"s copyrights) belongs to "Turkiye Klinikleri". Users do not have the right to resell, process, share, distribute, display or give someone permission to access or to use the "Turkiye Klinikleri" services, "Turkiye Klinikleri" information and the products under copyright protection by "Turkiye Klinikleri". Within hereby "Terms of Use" unless explicitly permitted by "Turkiye Klinikleri" nobody can reproduce, process, distribute or produce or prepare any study from those under "Turkiye Klinikleri" copyright protection.

5.2. Within hereby "Terms of Use", "Turkiye Klinikleri" reserves the rights for "Turkiye Klinikleri" services, "Turkiye Klinikleri" information, the products associated with "Turkiye Klinikleri" copyrights, "Turkiye Klinikleri" trademarks, "Turkiye Klinikleri" trade looks or its all rights for other entity and information it has through this website unless it is explicitly authorized by "Turkiye Klinikleri".

6. CHANGES IN THE TERMS OF USE

"Turkiye Klinikleri" in its sole discretion may change the hereby "Terms of Use" anytime announcing within the "SITE". The changed terms of the hereby "Terms of Use" will become valid when they are announced. Hereby "Terms of Use" cannot be changed by unilateral declarations of users.

7. FORCE MAJEURE

"Turkiye Klinikleri" is not responsible for executing late or never of this hereby "Terms of Use", privacy policy and "USER Contract" in any situation legally taken into account as force majeure. Being late or failure of performance or non-defaulting of this and similar cases like this will not be the case from the viewpoint of "Turkiye Klinikleri", and "Turkiye Klinikleri" will not have any damage liability for these situations. "Force majeure" term will be regarded as outside of the concerned party's reasonable control and any situation that "Turkiye Klinikleri" cannot prevent even though it shows due diligence. Also, force majeure situations include but not limited to natural disasters, rebellion, war, strike, communication problems, infrastructure and internet failure, power cut and bad weather conditions.

8. LAW AND AUTHORISATION TO FOLLOW

Turkish Law will be applied in practicing, interpreting the hereby "Terms of Use" and managing the emerging legal relationships within this "Terms of Use" in case of finding element of foreignness, except for the rules of Turkish conflict of laws. Ankara Courts and Enforcement Offices are entitled in any controversy happened or may happen due to hereby contract.

9. CLOSING AND AGREEMENT

Hereby "Terms of Use" come into force when announced in the "SITE" by "Turkiye Klinikleri". The users are regarded to agree to hereby contract terms by using the "SITE". "Turkiye Klinikleri" may change the contract terms and the changes will be come into force by specifying the version number and the date of change on time it is published in the "SITE".

 

30.03.2014

Privacy Policy

We recommend you to read the terms of use below before you visit our website. In case you agree these terms, following our rules will be to your favor. Please read our Terms of Use thoroughly.

www.turkiyeklinikleri.com website belongs to Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc. and is designed in order to inform physicians in the field of health

www.turkiyeklinikleri.com cannot reach to user’s identity, address, service providers or other information. The users may send this information to the website through forms if they would like to. However, www.turkiyeklinikleri.com may collect your hardware and software information. The information consists of your IP address, browser type, operating system, domain name, access time, and related websites. www.turkiyeklinikleri.com cannot sell the provided user information (your name, e-mail address, home and work address, phone number) to the third parties, publish it publicly, or keep it in the website. Gathered information has a directing feature to be a source for the website’s visitor profile, reporting and promotion of the services.

www.turkiyeklinikleri.com uses the taken information:

-To enhance, improve and maintain the quality of the website

-To generate visitor’s profile and statistical data

-To determine the tendency of the visitors on using our website

-To send print publications/correspondences

-To send press releases or notifications through e-mail

-To generate a list for an event or competition

By using www.turkiyeklinikleri.com you are considered to agree that;

-Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc. cannot be hold responsible for any user’s illegal and immoral behavior,

-Terms of use may change from time to time,

-It is not responsible for other websites’ contents it cannot control or the harms they may cause although it uses the connection they provided.

Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc. may block the website to users in the following events:

-Information with wrong, incomplete, deceiving or immoral expressions is recorded to the website,

-Proclamation, advertisement, announcement, libelous expressions are used against natural person or legal identity,

-During various attacks to the website,

-Disruption of the website because of a virus.

Written, visual and audible materials of the website, including the code and the software are under protection by legal legislation.

Without the written consent of Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc. the information on the website cannot be downloaded, changed, reproduced, copied, republished, posted or distributed.

All rights of the software and the design of the website belong to Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc.

Ortadoğu Advertisement Presentation Publishing Tourism Education Architecture Industry and Trade Inc. will be pleased to hear your comments about our terms of use. Please share the subjects you think may enrich our website or if there is any problem regarding our website.

info@turkiyeklinikleri.com