Comparison between an independent midwifery program and a district hospital in rural Tanzania: observations regarding the treatment of female patients.

Tanzania faces a significant shortage of physicians. In light of this, nurse-midwives have been critical in reducing maternal mortality in Tanzania in recent years. Despite the importance of both entities in providing health care to women in Tanzania, there have been few studies addressing the cultural competency of each entity. We shadowed and assisted both an independent nurse-midwife as well as physicians and nurse-midwives at a large district hospital in rural Tanzania. In this article we describe our observations regarding the treatment of female patients within the culture of an independent midwifery practice and at a large district hospital.