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“What we are advocating is to [protect] the privacy of a woman coming to deliver,” says Wamakko.

“Most women, because of that, run away from coming to hospital. Imagine someone shaving your pubic hair, with you laying there, your legs wide open.”

The training is supported with funding from Australian Aid, which also supports donation of delivery beds, delivery kits, sonic aid and bed screens to five FCT health facilities.

Wammako said the number of women coming for facility-based delivery has increased since health workers stopped pubic shaving as a practice.

So what’s the big deal about pre-delivery pubic shaving?

Healthworkers have been worried some women leave their pubic bushy.

“For some procedures, it is not good because some of the bacteria and fungi that attack the vaginal area hide and grow under the roots of the [pubic] hair,” says Wamakko.