Human Resources for Maternal Health: Multi-Purpose or Specialists?
Author Information
Author(s): Vincent Fauveau, Della R. Sherratt, Luc de Bernis
Primary Institution: UNFPA
Hypothesis
The stagnation of maternal health programmes has been the result of confusion and careless choices in scaling up between a limited number of truly skilled birth attendants and large quantities of multi-purpose workers.
Conclusion
No significant progress in maternal mortality reduction can be achieved without empowering midwives and strengthening health systems with a focus on quality of care.
Supporting Evidence
- Over 530,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, mostly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
- 70% of maternal deaths are due to five major complications that occur during labor and delivery.
- Countries that have reduced maternal mortality have done so by ensuring skilled care at all births.
Takeaway
This study looks at whether having more general health workers or more specialized midwives is better for helping mothers during childbirth. It finds that having skilled midwives is really important for saving lives.
Methodology
The paper reviews the current situation of human resources for maternal health and proposes key areas of work for improvement.
Limitations
The evidence on the effectiveness of different types of health workers in reducing maternal mortality is scarce.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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