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Evaluation of a comprehensive home‐based midwifery programme in South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Author(s) -
Ronsmans Carine,
Endang Achadi,
Gunawan Supratikto,
Zazri Ali,
McDermott Jeanne,
Koblinsky Marge,
Marshall Tom
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00780.x
Subject(s) - medicine , attendance , audit , caesarean section , psychological intervention , birth attendant , nursing , intervention (counseling) , medical emergency , pregnancy , family medicine , population , environmental health , health services , business , maternal health , accounting , biology , economics , genetics , economic growth
We report the findings of an evaluation of a programme in three districts in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, which consisted of the training, deployment and supervision of a large number of professional midwives in villages, an information, education and communication (IEC) strategy to increase use of village midwives for birth, and a district‐based maternal and perinatal audit (MPA). Before the programme, the midwives had limited ability to manage obstetric complications, and 90% of births took place at home. Only 37% were attended by a skilled attendant. By 1998–99, 510 midwives were posted in the districts and skilled attendance at delivery had increased to 59%. Through in‐service training, continuous supervision and participation in the audit system midwives also gained confidence and skills in the management of obstetric complications. Despite this, the proportion admitted to hospital for a caesarean section declined from 1.7 to 1.4% and the proportion admitted to hospital with a complication requiring a life‐saving intervention declined from 1.1% to 0.7%. The strategy of a midwife in every village has dramatically increased skilled birth attendance, but does not yet provide specialized obstetric care for all women needing it. The high cost of emergency obstetric interventions may well be the most important obstacle to the use of hospital care.