Africa’s male midwives are rare but increasing in the fight against pregnancy deaths

In Lesotho, male midwives are becoming increasingly common as the country strives to reduce its high maternal mortality rate. Ntlhane Sehloho, a male midwife, travels three hours through mountainous terrain to reach the Mpharane Health Center, where he greets expectant mothers with a positive attitude. Despite the traditional view of midwifery as a female role, Sehloho has been working in the field for two decades and aims to improve maternal care in rural communities.

With only about 300 male midwives in Lesotho, organizations like the World Health Organization and UNICEF are encouraging more people, both male and female, to pursue midwifery careers. Lesotho's maternal mortality rate is far higher than the global average, with 530 women dying per 100,000 live births. Health authorities have encouraged male nurses to train as midwives to address the shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas.

Male midwives, such as Sehloho, may face some hesitation from women, but their presence is slowly gaining acceptance as the community becomes more open to gender equality in healthcare.