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

In the mountainous region of Lesotho, a small but growing number of men are breaking traditional gender norms by pursuing a career as midwives. Sehloho Ntlhane, a male midwife at the Mpharane Health Center, exemplifies this trend, having embarked on a three-hour journey to provide essential prenatal care to expectant mothers. Despite the rarity of male midwives in the region, with estimates suggesting they make up less than 1% of all midwives globally, Ntlhane's work is crucial in addressing Lesotho's high maternal mortality rate.

For every 100,000 live births, about 530 women die in the country, far exceeding the global average of 200. This story is part of a series on maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the world's fastest-growing population and accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths. Organizations like the World Health Organization and UNICEF are advocating for increased participation of both men and women in the field of midwifery to tackle the shortage of childbirth responders.