Excellence in Adversity: The Story of a Kenyan Birth Attendant

Although the most recent trend at WHO and UNICEF is toward diminished support for traditional midwives (birth attendants) coupled with increased support of professional midwives, recent anthropological ethnographies call into question the appropriateness of this approach (Davis-Floyd 2005, p. 35). This paper takes the above quote by Robbie Davis-Floyd and addresses its intent in real life: the real life of a woman called Metrine. Metrine exudes courage, skill and excellence; she is an especially inspirational birth attendant from the Bungoma District in Kenya.