COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY ASSISTANT

TRAINING IN MALAWIPRESENTED BY

SUSAN

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

BACKGROUND

RATIONALE FOR INTRODUCING

CMA?

SUCCESSES

CHALLENGES

BACKGROUND The Millennium Development

Goals 4 and 5 focus on improving maternal and child health.

In Malawi, Shortage and poor retention of midwives is a challenge for achieving these MDGs.

This also contributes to a shortfall in skilled birth attendants.

BACKGROUND One mechanism developed by Malawi government to try to increase skilled attendance at birth, particularly in rural areas, was the introduction of CMA training

(18-month training programme).

BACKGROUND CMA training started as a pilot program in 2011

25 female students enrolled at St. Joseph’s

College of Nursing and Midwifery

23 at St. Lukes College of Nursing and Midwifery

All deployed now

Currently enrolled at St. Joseph, MCHS,

Ekwendeni, st.Johns, Mulanje, Phalombe,

St.Lukes, Nkhoma.

RATIONALE To reduce MMR currently 675/100 000 live birth and neonatal mortality rate 33 per 1000 live births

To increase skilled birth attendants in the rural areas.

RATIONALE

80% of population live in rural

areas

Challenges to access health

services due geographical and

infrastructure problems

RATIONALE Many midwives refuse to work in rural settings

CMA understands community cultural background.

CMAs stay in communities

SUCCESSES CMAs are adding to number of skilled attendants in the communities.

Curriculum revised to incorporate care of emergencies

SUCCESSES Mentorship training for NMTs to mentor CMAs

Support from local organisations.

CHALLENGES No grass root level

infrastructures for CMAs to practice close to their communities.

Retention of CMAs poses a challenge as most of them are young and will get married or want to continue with education.

CHALLENGES Mentors not always available to give the necessary support

Recruitment done at a district level and not at local level.

Curriculum still in draft form.

RECOMMENDATIONS Provision of infrastructures for CMAs to practice in their communities after six months of working with a mentor- this will improve access to skilled attendance at grass root level.

RECOMMENDATIONS Finalise curriculum Revise retention strategy

MALAWI ZIKOMO