Clean Birth Education by Midwives in Southern Lao PDR 2014-2016

Clean Birth Education by Midwives in Southern Lao PDR 2014-2016

By Cecilia Jevitt, CNM, PhD; Kristyn Zalota, MA; Hannah Lakehomer, CNM, MSN; Elizabeth Kitue, CNM; MSN, Ciara Thomson-Barnett, CNM, MSN; Casey Vizenor, CNM; MSN

Questions can be directed to the corresponding author: Cecilia Jevitt, CNM, PhD Yale School of Nursing, Midwifery Specialty cecilia.jevitt@yale.edu

ABSTRACT

Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic struggles with high maternal and infant mortality. Yale School of Nursing midwifery faculty partnered with CleanBirth.org in 2014, 2015 and 2016 with the goal of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in rural Salavan Province, Lao PDR, through the use of clean birth kits and safe birth practices. Over those years, CleanBirth.org delivered 5,000 kits, with 3,095 distributed in Salavan Province by nurses and primary care workers, who did 1,869 postpartum follow-up interviews. No maternal or newborn postpartum infections were reported; however several issues confound postpartum data reliability. Trainings in WHO Essential Newborn Care provided by Yale midwives were attended by 229 nurses, midwives and primary care providers. This paper describes clean birth kit distribution, evaluation and adaptation to fit local needs, along with capacity building education in basic midwifery skills.

KEYWORDS: midwifery, clean birth kit, Lao PDR, maternal-child health, newborn care, puerperal sepsis, Salavan Province, public health

For full document click here: Clean Birth Education by Midwives in Southern Laos April 2017 Jevitt final