1. Home-based life-saving skills in Liberia: acquisition and retention of skills and knowledge.
- Author
-
Lori JR, Majszak CM, and Martyn KK
- Subjects
- Community Health Services organization & administration, Community Health Services standards, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, International Cooperation, Liberia, Maternal-Child Health Centers organization & administration, Maternal-Child Health Centers standards, Pregnancy, Time Factors, Warfare, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Home Childbirth standards, Infant Mortality, Maternal Mortality, Midwifery education, Midwifery standards
- Abstract
Introduction: In 2006, Home-Based Life-Saving Skills was introduced in three Liberian counties, in partnership with Africare-Liberia and the Liberian Ministry of Health and with funding by the United States Agency for International Development., Methods: Traditional midwives and trained traditional midwives (N = 412) underwent pre- and immediate posttesting on four topics. Three hundred eighty-nine (94%) of the original participants also completed 1-year follow-up posttesting., Results: Mean scores significantly improved between pre- and immediate posttests and knowledge improvement was stable at 1 year. Correct responses on individual steps for each of four topics significantly increased over the course of training. The data demonstrate a major change in the knowledge base of the traditional and trained traditional midwives acting as village guides., Discussion: Home-Based Life-Saving Skills is a viable means by which to improve community knowledge and decrease maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality., (Copyright 2010 American College of Nurse-Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF