Impact of a training package for community birth attendants in Madagascar

Olivia Lucey1, Mamy Andriatsihosena, Matthew Ellis

  • 1Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, 69 St Michael's Hill, Bristol, UK.

This brief report assesses the impact of community birth attendant training and explores barriers to safe delivery in rural Madagascar. We assessed the knowledge of 25 community birth attendants using interviewer-administered questionnaires and explored attitudes to delivery in 4 focus groups of 10 women of reproductive age and 1 focus group of 10 birth attendants. We found a mismatch between hygiene knowledge and reported practice. Clinical experience appears to reinforce training to achieve longer lasting change in practitioner knowledge (e.g. of labour complications). Focus groups helped to identify practical barriers to clean (delivery kits) and safe delivery (cost) despite this knowledge. We proposed that a facilitated women's group programme may complement such training.

Related Concept Videos

Community Based Intervention01:30

Community Based Intervention

Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System01:26

Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System

At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...