MIDIRS Essence > June 2007 > Midwifery News

Midwife shortage hampering efforts to reduce maternal deaths in the developing world

Originally posted on Jun 2007

Every year over half a million women in the developing world die during pregnancy and childbirth. A further nine million suffer complications, some so serious they can result in life-long pain and disability. While improving maternal health is one of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the issue remains high on the international agenda, in reality maternal mortality rates are increasing in some of the world’s poorest countries.

One of the biggest obstacles to improving maternal health is the crippling lack of skilled health professionals, particularly those with midwifery skills, in the developing world. Four out of five maternal deaths in the developing world are the direct result of obstetric complications, most of which could be averted through delivery with a skilled birth attendant and access to emergency care. While almost 100% of births in the UK are attended by a skilled health worker as few as a third of women in the developing world enjoy the same privilege and fewer still receive anywhere near the level of post and pre-natal care required to minimise risks to their health.

International development charity VSO is working to improve maternal and child health by tackling this shortage of skilled health professionals. The charity currently has over 200 health professionals working in 27 countries across the developing world, sharing their skills with local colleagues. Training is at the heart of each volunteer's work whether this means sharing best practice and knowledge to improve the skills of existing health staff and strengthen management techniques or working in structured training programmes to increase the numbers of health staff graduating.

UK midwives play an essential part in VSO’s work to improve maternal health services in the developing world, as Ruth Grearson, VSO’s health recruitment advisor explains. “With more attention and funding then ever being directed towards improving healthcare in the developing world it is the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals that is severely hampering efforts to bring basic healthcare to those who need it most, especially women and young infants.

“In countries which are trying to improve the provision of maternal health, VSO is seeing a steady increase in the number of requests for health professionals with midwifery skills, but it’s becoming a real struggle for us to fill these placements.

“Many UK midwives are unsure about volunteering overseas, worried about the impact any break will have on their career. This is something VSO is working hard to address. We recently launched a partnership with the NHS in Scotland, which sees staff volunteering under the scheme, including midwives, treated as if on secondment while they’re overseas with VSO. They have their pension contributions paid and are guaranteed a position at the same grade when they return. We’re hoping that the recommendations from ‘Global Health Partnerships’ and Lord Crisp’s recent review will be accepted and that we can look into the possibility of a similar scheme with the NHS in England and Wales.”

Midwife Gobnait Murphy, who spent two years working at a primary care clinic in rural Namibia, knows first hand the benefits her volunteering made to not only the colleagues she was working with but also to her own professional development. “My work covered everything from antenatal care and child delivery to care for elderly patients and the dying. I found I was using my clinical skills far more than I had at home and became much more adaptable to situations, using my own judgement rather than relying on machines. For example, when not sure if a baby is breeched in the UK, we could use a quick scan. In Namibia it was more a case of instinct and using my clinical skills.

“It was refreshing to be tested like this and it definitely increased my passion for the job. Covering so many areas was a real challenge, particularly with just two of us in the clinic and when one of us went to the shops for supplies. The nearest shops were 10 hours away and there was one bus twice a week!

“I really enjoyed my experience and it has definitely helped with both my confidence and my career at home. VSO was something I had in mind for a long time and I would consider working overseas again.”

If you’d like to volunteer with VSO and improve maternal health in some of the world’s poorest countries, you’ll need to be a registered midwife with at least three years professional experience. Placements are generally for one to two years. In return you’ll receive a living allowance that will support a modest but comfortable lifestyle with accommodation, flights and insurance being covered. Prior to departure, you’ll receive training that will help you adjust to life in your host country, covering languages, security, development issues and specific new professional skills, if needed. Upon arrival, VSO in country staff will meet you to organise further training and will ensure you receive all the support they need throughout your placement.

To find out more about current volunteering opportunities visit www.vso.org.uk or call 020 8780 7000
www.vso.org.uk

Leona Daly, VSO

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