PERSPECTIVES OF MIDWIVES ON THE USE OF KALIGUTIM (LOCAL OXYTOCIN) FOR INDUCTION OF LABOUR AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE THREE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN TAMALE

The use of herbal medicine and/or its products is common throughout the world. In Tamale metropolis, pregnant women frequently use local oxytocin to induce labor, as shown by the fact that 90% of midwives reported managing patients who used kaligutim(local oxytocin) to speed up labor. Early career midwives are also aware of this and have personally observed it being used by their clients. The purpose of the study was to assess midwives' opinions on pregnant women's use of the well-known kaligutim (local oxytocin) for labor induction in the Tamale Metropolis. A facility-based cross-sectional research design was used for the study using a quantitative method. A total of 214 working midwives from Tamale's three main public hospitals participated. Data for the study were gathered through a standardized questionnaire. For the analysis and presentation of the data, descriptive and analytical statistics, such as basic frequencies, percentages, fisher’s exact test, chi square test and multivariate analysis were employed. According to the findings of this study, the safety, dosages, and contraindications of kaligutim during pregnancy and labor are unknown. A cessation in contractions was reported by 44 (22.4%) of the respondents whose clients took the local oxytocin. The study also discovered that women in Tamale metropolis use “walgu”, a spiritual form of oxytocin, to induce and augment labor. Respondents who responded yes to baby was admitted at the New-born Care Unit were 25% more likely to use kaligutim (local oxytocin) as compared to those who responded no to baby was admitted at the New-born Care Unit [(AOR= 0.25 95% CI (0.01, 0.53), P=0.021)]. It can be concluded that using kaligutim to start labor has negative effects on both the mother and the fetus. Additional research is required to evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness, biochemical makeup, and safety of these herbal medicines, particularly during pregnancy and delivery, as well as the spiritual significance of kaligutim (Walgu) and its forms.