The Mobile Obstetric Maternal (MOM) health workers project: Improving maternal and newborn health in Eastern Burma

摘要

Along the Thailand/Burma border, ongoing military conflicts and a scarcity of healthcare resources preclude access to quality and stable healthcare for childbearing women and their families. Maternal and neonatal morbidity/mortality rates are significantly higher than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. In response to this crisis, the Mobile Obstetric Maternal (MOM) Health Workers Project, an innovative three-tiered program, was developed to provide quality care. The first level of care consists of maternal health workers (MHWs) who are educated to provide basic care including prenatal services, basic emergency obstetric care including blood transfusions, post-partum care, and family planning. The second tier of local health workers is taught in their communities by the MHWs. The third tier of providers includes traditional birth attendants who provide care depending on their skills level.