Born at home with a traditional midwife (Ethiopia)
In the 21st century, Ethiopia and Somalia still have the largest numbers of active traditional midwives in the world. In 2015, 84% of the almost 5 million deliveries registered yearly in Ethiopia were attended by traditional midwives (BTM), 91% of rural women and 42% in cities, proportions not so dissimilar to Spain in the early 20th century.
With the necessary precaution, among other things because of the low registration of births in the country (only 5% in rural areas from 2010-2015), it is interesting to reflect on why the maternal death rate among Ethiopian women (398 deaths per 100,000 deliveries) is similar to, or even much lower than that in other African countries with the same or better rates of professional attention at delivery.
For example, in Somalia the rate of maternal death is 732 and that for professional attention at delivery is 91%; in Madagascar the rates are 353 and 56%, respectively, and in Nigeria 814 and 65%.