Midwifery in Indonesia: a professional snapshot

In 1988, Indonesia had the highest maternal mortality rate in South East Asia, but the Government's commitment to reducing this has already demonstrated a measure of success. Initiatives include: use of voluntary healthcare workers (kaders) in the local community family planning initiatives raising awareness of the status of women in society by the appointment of a Minister for Women's Affairs. The commitment of both the government and midwives to promoting safe motherhood in Indonesia should make a significant contribution to achieving the WHO aim of halving the maternal mortality rate by the year 2000.