Increasing use of skilled attendance at birth in Dumka, India

Sheena Currie, JHPIEGO

Maternal and neonatal mortality continues to be a challenge for India, particularly in rural communities. This presentation will outline a project aimed at training Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) as skilled birth attendants in Dumka, Jharkhand. This project aims to increase access to skilled maternal and newborn care and mobilizing communities to demand care. A total of 37 ANMs have been trained to competency in evidence-based practices per the Government of India guidelines. These ANMs are now placed in communities and providing services. Data to illustrate improvements in the performance of ANMs as well as access to and demand for skilled care will be presented. Lessons learned will be considered including the need for maternal health programmes to be established within fully functioning health systems. There is an expectation that this pilot program will be scaled up in Jharkhand state and the learning resource package integrated into the national pre-service ANM program.