Helping Women in Liberia Take Charge of Health

Americares works to train and encourage Trained Traditional Midwives (TTMs), who are trusted and integral members of communities, to educate and refer pregnant women for care and delivery at health facilities. Through this strategy, Americares seeks to increase the number of pregnant women receiving care and delivering at facilities, where Americares also works to strengthen the capacity of facility staff to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality.

In December, Americares conducted a one-day training for TTMs on identifying “high-risk mothers,” meaning those who are at a high risk of developing life-threatening complications during pregnancy and delivery. The training focused on the importance of referring all pregnant women, including those who may not be “high risk,” to health facilities to receive care during pregnancy and delivery.

The training was for TTMs within the Zondo Clinic catchment area. A total of 20 TTMs attended the training. The training was conducted in collaboration with the Grand Bassa County Health Team. The District Reproductive Health Supervisor (DRHS) from #4 District, along with Americares Midwife Nurse Trainer, were the facilitators.

Objectives of the training
• Learning how to identify the need for an immediate emergency referral to a health facility
• Learning how to identify women who may have an even higher risk of developing life-threatening complications during pregnancy and delivery
• Reinforcing the importance of referring all pregnant women to health facilities for care

Methodology of the training
• Lecture (in Liberian English and Bassa – local dialect)
• Question and answer period
• Experience sharing (discussion)

Prior to starting the training, participants scored an average of 53% on the test.  After completing the training, those participants scored an 80% on the post course test!  Training trusted members of the community to bring pregnant women into facilities for care is an important step in increasing access to health care and decreasing the risk of complications during pregnancy and we are proud of our team's work with these Traditional Midwives!