Page "Midwifery" Paragraph 109

The village of Goria Ghuli is an example of a rural and traditional village.

The village has no electricity, and they have no access to a telephone.

The primary health facility is in Sonapur, which is about 7 km from the village.

This health facility has 3 doctors, 2 lady health visitors, 6 auxiliary nurse midwives, 3 microscopists, and 2 pharmacists.

The Karbis believe that good health “ is the outcome of a pious life and illness is the punishment meted out by spirits ” The Karbis have specialists or healers who are not alike ; midwives, or ethnogynacologists are one of these specialists.

The village has two different categories of midwives.

The first is known as the ‘ traditional ’ midwife, who is also an herbalist.

The second is the ‘ nurse ’ midwife ; these are the ‘ government ’ midwives.

Traditional midwives are favored in the village.

They receive some informal training that is used to help with before, during, and after pregnancy care of villagers.

This information is transferred from generation to generation.

In the village there are 3 ethnogynacologist, which can be approached at any time for assistance at the time of delivery.

She, and usually another elderly woman in the village help during and after the delivery.

If for any reason there are complications, the village midwife will forward the ‘ patient ’ to the ‘ nurse ’, and if she is unable to help then they are forwarded to the Primary Health Center.

These midwives do not take on the traditional role of a midwife that we may see in the United States, for example.

Rather, a huge role of the midwife is as an herbalist for the village.