No Knickers, No Clinic: Bugiri Women Shun Antenatal Care Over Lack Of Underwear

By Swift Reporter | Credit: Daily Monitor | Asuman Musobya

Lack of basic clothing, including underwear and decent maternity wear, is preventing some pregnant women in Bugiri District from attending antenatal care services, raising concerns among local leaders and health officials about the growing reliance on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).

District leaders say poverty, fear of stigma, long distances to health facilities, and alleged mistreatment by some health workers are among the factors discouraging expectant mothers from seeking professional maternal healthcare.

Speaking on Thursday during the introduction of Early Years Count Uganda, a non-governmental organisation focused on maternal and child welfare, Bugiri District Secretary for Health and Education, Ms Martha Namboozo, said many women are reluctant to visit health facilities because they cannot afford essential personal items required during pregnancy.

“As leaders, we need to address this matter because many of these women are more comfortable seeking services from Traditional Birth Attendants. Some health workers laugh at them because of their poor dressing,” Ms Namboozo said.

She explained that some expectant mothers feel ashamed attending antenatal clinics because they lack decent clothing, including underwear, while others only have worn-out garments.

According to Ms Namboozo, the challenge is particularly severe in rural communities where limited household incomes are often directed towards food, school fees, and other pressing family needs, leaving little money for maternity clothing and personal care items.

She also noted that inadequate support from spouses during pregnancy has worsened the situation for many women.

Ms Aisha Namukemo, a resident of Kayogera Village in Muterere Sub-county, said fear of humiliation discourages some women from seeking antenatal services.

“Sometimes we fear going for medical check-ups due to harassment by some health workers and because we lack some of the required items. However, we are grateful that the government occasionally provides mama kits,” she said.

Namukemo further cited long distances to health facilities as a major obstacle, urging authorities to extend antenatal services to lower-level health centres to improve access for rural mothers.

Another resident, Ms Hadijja Kagoya of Kimombasa Ward in Bugiri Municipality, appealed for greater government support for vulnerable pregnant women.

“Government should consider supporting pregnant women because many of them are abandoned by men after conception and are left to fend for themselves,” she said.

The Bugiri District Vice Chairperson, Mr David Okelo Nalugada, pledged to table the concerns before the district council for discussion and possible intervention.

“We are going to monitor health facilities across the district and come up with resolutions that will ensure our people benefit fully from government programmes,” he said.

He also warned health workers against exploiting or mistreating patients seeking medical care.

Health workers, however, defended antenatal procedures, saying physical examinations are necessary to monitor the health of both mothers and their unborn children.

Ms Juliet Nafula, a midwife at Bugiri Hospital’s antenatal clinic, said healthcare providers observe strict privacy and confidentiality standards during examinations.

“We therefore encourage all expectant mothers to come for antenatal services because they are offered free of charge,” she said.

Nafula noted that one of the challenges facing maternal healthcare programmes is the reluctance of many men to accompany their spouses to antenatal clinics.

“One of the major challenges we face is that many men are reluctant to accompany their wives for antenatal services, partly because they fear HIV testing,” she added.

She called on local leaders to strengthen community sensitisation efforts on the importance of early and regular antenatal visits, noting that attendance levels remain below expectations in some parts of the district.

The concerns emerged as stakeholders renewed calls for stronger community support systems and targeted interventions to address the social and economic barriers preventing expectant mothers from accessing maternal healthcare services.

Health experts maintain that regular antenatal care is critical for detecting pregnancy-related complications, promoting safe deliveries, and improving both maternal and child health outcomes.