The impact of traditional birth attendant training on delivery complications in Ghana

Objectives: In their efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, many national and international agencies make considerable investments in training traditional birth attendants (TBAs). The value of TBA training is controversial, and plausible arguments are made both for and agai...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health policy and planning 2000-09, Vol.15 (3), p.326-331
Main Authors: Smith, Jason B, Coleman, Nii A, Fortney, Judith A, Johnson, Joseph De-Graft, Blumhagen, Dan W, Grey, Thomas W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Birth
Curricula
Family planning
Female
Ghana
Ghana - epidemiology
Health planning
Health policy
Health services
Humans
Immunization
Intervention
Logistic Models
Maternal Health Services - standards
Medical personnel
Middle Aged
Midwifery
Midwifery - education
Midwifery - standards
Morbidity
Mortality
Obstetric Labor Complications - epidemiology
Obstetric Labor Complications - prevention & control
Obstetrics
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Pregnancy
Primary care
Program Evaluation
Referral and Consultation
Research reports
Rural Population
Tetanus
Training
Workforce
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives: In their efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, many national and international agencies make considerable investments in training traditional birth attendants (TBAs). The value of TBA training is controversial, and plausible arguments are made both for and against. Numerous process evaluations are reported in the literature and the results are mixed, though generally positive. Outcome evaluations, however, are scarce. This article describes an outcome evaluation of TBA training conducted in two districts of Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, during 1996. Design and methods: Data from a random sample survey of 1961 clients of TBAs were subjected to logistic regression modelling to determine the effect of training on maternal outcomes, controlling for other independent variables. Results: Of eight outcomes modelled, three were associated with training and five were not. Three additional outcomes were not modelled, primarily due to low prevalence. Conclusions: Despite some inherent design limitations, this study found that the evidence for a beneficial impact of TBA training was not compelling. Training sponsors should consider alternative health investments and, where TBA training remains the intervention of choice, be realistic about expectations of impact.
ISSN:0268-1080
1460-2237
1460-2237
DOI:10.1093/heapol/15.3.326