In Lesotho, a growing number of male midwives are contributing to efforts to reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rate. Traditionally, midwifery has been considered women’s work in the southern African nation, which has a population of roughly two million. However, approximately 300 men have entered the profession as part of a broader initiative to improve maternal health outcomes.

Lesotho faces a significant challenge in maternal care, with about 530 women dying from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth per 100,000 live births. This rate is considerably higher than the global average of approximately 200 deaths per 100,000 live births. To address this, the government has implemented campaigns encouraging more men to join midwifery, expanding the workforce available to assist expectant mothers.

One male midwife, Ntlhane Sehloho, who has practiced for 20 years, acknowledged the skepticism some pregnant women and their families hold toward male caregivers. He said he often draws on his personal background growing up in a poor rural area to build trust with patients. Originally aspiring to become a nurse, Sehloho was guided into midwifery through government efforts aimed at diversifying the profession.

Supporters of male midwives argue that they can offer a different approach to patient care. Blandina Motaung of the United Nations Population Fund observed that several women in Lesotho find male midwives to be gentler and less strict compared to their female counterparts. This view was echoed by 21-year-old Bonolo Tebello, an expectant mother who said that her experiences with male midwives have been positive. Tebello noted that the quality of care remained consistent regardless of the midwife’s gender and highlighted the respectful treatment she received, even when arriving late to appointments.

Despite these examples, men remain a small minority within the global midwifery profession, making up less than one percent according to the World Health Organization. In Lesotho, the increasing involvement of male midwives forms part of a broader strategy to combat one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates and improve healthcare access for women across the country.