Factors influencing pregnant women’s utilization of traditional prenatal care in Zimbabwe: an interpretive phenomenological analysis

This study explores the factors influencing pregnant women’s utilization of traditional prenatal care in rural Zimbabwe, focusing on their lived experiences through an interpretive phenomenological lens. Framed by the Health Belief Model (HBM), the research examines how cultural, systemic, social, and personal factors shape health-seeking behaviors, particularly in contexts where formal antenatal care (ANC) is underutilized. The study seeks to provide insights that inform maternal health policies sensitive to local practices and barriers by centering women’s perceptions, beliefs, and meanings attached to traditional care. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 15 pregnant women who had engaged with traditional prenatal care and five traditional birth attendants (TBAs) conveniently and purposively selected. Data analysis, conducted using MAXQDA and guided by Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), uncovered five key themes driving traditional prenatal care: affordability and accessibility, perceived effectiveness, trust and confidence in TBAs, social influence, and cultural identity. The findings highlight a complex interplay of cultural norms, systemic barriers, and individual beliefs that influence maternal health choices. The study underscores the need for inclusive, context-sensitive maternal health policies that integrate traditional care practices while addressing barriers to formal ANC utilization.