05. The Role of Traditional Birth Attendants in the Reduction of Maternal Mortality: Introduction

05. The Role of Traditional Birth Attendants in the Reduction of Maternal Mortality

		(introduction...)
		Summary
		Introduction
		The Rationale for TBA Training
		The Role of Traditional Birth Attendants
		TBA Training
		Evaluation of TBA Training Programmes
		Theoretical Considerations in Measuring the Outcome of Training TBAs
		Evidence of Maternal Mortality Reduction from Programmes of TBA Training
		Additional Health Benefits from TBA Training Programmes
		The Role of TBAs in Referral to Essential Obstetric Care Facilities
		The Costs of TBA Training
		The Debate Continues
		Conclusion
		References

Introduction

Since the Safe Motherhood conference in Nairobi in 1987 increasing attention has been given to the problem of maternal mortality in low-income countries. Several major international meetings, including the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994, have produced commitments to reduce maternal mortality (FCI 1994). The goal of reducing maternal mortality by 75% by 2015 has been adopted as an International Development Target (IDT) (OECD 2000). The challenge now is identifying and implementing effective and affordable interventions so that progress towards the goal becomes a reality. One intervention, of which there is now many years of experience in numerous countries is that of training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in parts of the world where skilled professional attendants are scarce³.