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Africa's Male Midwives Are Rare but Increasing in the Fight Against Pregnancy Deaths
About 300 male midwives work in Lesotho as health authorities try to improve rural care and lower maternal deaths, the United Nations says 530 women die per 100,000 births.
- On Friday, July 10, 2026, male midwife Sehloho Ntlhane conducted prenatal examinations at Mpharane Health Centre in Lesotho, using a Pinard horn to monitor fetal heartbeats during patient visits.
- Lesotho faces severe maternal mortality, with about 530 deaths for every 100,000 live births—far above the global average of about 200, prompting the nation to expand its midwifery workforce.
- UNICEF data show 92% of births in Lesotho are now attended by trained providers, with about 300 male midwives working in the country after two decades of expansion efforts.
- While some patients prefer female midwives, 21-year-old Bonolo Tebello said, "I'm happy to be treated by a male because they still provide the same level of care."
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths, while World Health Organization figures estimate men comprise less than 1% of midwives worldwide, underscoring Lesotho's pioneering role.
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Associated Press News+24 Reposted by 24 other sources
Africa's male midwives are rare but increasing in the fight against pregnancy deaths
The southern African kingdom is seeing more men becoming midwives. Lesotho has a high rate of women’s deaths around childbirth, and the government emphasizes that gender shouldn’t matter in childbirth care.
·New York, United States
Read Full ArticleAfrica’s male midwives are rare but increasing in the fight against pregnancy deaths - Inside Politics
On a cold morning, Ntlhane Sehloho grabbed his backpack containing medical equipment and embarked on a three-hour journey, navigating the curving gravel roads leading to a clinic nestled in a valley of mountainous Lesotho. The post Africa’s male midwives are rare but increasing in the fight against pregnancy deaths appeared first on Inside Politics.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources27
Leaning Left11Leaning Right5Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution42% Left
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources lean Left
42% Left
L 42%
C 39%
R 19%
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