Agencies issue statement on TBA training

WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA have produced a joint statement on training traditional birth attendants (TBAs), putting the issue of such training into the context of local conditions. It followed considerable debate on the issue. It says: "Because of the current shortage of professional midwives and institutional facilities to provide prenatal care and clean, safe deliveries as well as a variety of primary health care functions, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA promote the training of TBAs in order to bridge the gap until there is access to acceptable, professional, modern health care services for all women and children." However, the statement goes on to point out the limitations of concentrating on TBA training alone. "Training of TBAs cannot be used as a single approach to improving maternal and child health care. Without implementation of appropriate technologies and strengthening of referral and support systems, TBA training alone cannot contribute to a substantial improvement in health care. Furthermore, trained TBAs cannot be expected to reduce overall mortality and morbidity rates when poverty, illiteracy, and discrimination--the underlying causes of these problems--are not addressed."