Midwives for Midwives - Creating Parterships to Strengthen Women's Healthcare

What We Do

Training and Capacity Building

The most vital and substantial component of MFM's work is the training of traditional midwives.

Skills training with a traditional midwife

Skills training with a traditional midwife

Since 1997, MFM has worked with traditional midwives from rural and indigenous communities to document their practices, encourage safe and healthy traditional techniques, and identify gaps in their technical skills and knowledge. By involving traditional midwives in the design of the curriculum, the training program meets the needs that the midwives themselves have identified - building on existing knowledge and teaching tangible skills not included in previous trainings.

MFM's innovative and integrated training approach combines intensive group education, one-on-one clinical supervision, and continuing education. MFM understands the integrity of birth and sees it as an emotional, physical, spiritual, cultural event.

MFM utilizes creative and appropriate teaching techniques to help participating midwives better assess and respond to the health needs of women in their communities. Topics include contraception, safe birth attendance, and diagnosis and management of health problems (including complications of pregnancy and childbirth) as well as medicinal plants, accupunture, massage, movement, nutrition, and energy work.

MFM is also spearheading the creation of a professional national organization of community-based midwives. The first class of midwives trained by MFM in 2000 is eager to connect with other midwives, begin work on a national agenda and develop a strong political voice. In addition, MFM has begun work with midwives organized through other agencies. These partnerships leverage the important work already being done by and with midwives throughout Guatemala.

Research

In 2000, MFM conducted extensive research to determine existing knowledge skills, beliefs and the training needs of the midwives in Sacapatequez Department. Lengthy interviews were conducted with each participating midwife prior to creating the curriculum to determine not just their level of knowledge but also their thoughts and feelings about the work they perform. MFM then designed an original model curriculum incorporating evidence-based medical tools and methods while respecting and reinforcing positive traditional practices. Additionally, MFM has conducted thorough assessments of both the surrounding communities' health needs and a comprehensive review of midwife training programs in Guatemala and other developing countries. MFM is interested in conducting research on gender issues in women's health care and more fully analyzing Guatemala's women's health policies as they relate to the role of traditional midwives.

Monitoring and Evaluation

MFM has just refined our monitoring and evaluation methods and developed a system for data collection, including the development of evaluation tools and a protocol for data entry and analysis on an on-going basis. This information provides important data concerning the progress of our activities and will be taken into account to improve the effectiveness of our training. Final report will be available upon request.