BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Midwives play a critical role in improving maternal and newborn health, with evidence showing they provide a significant portion of essential care needed for women and babies.
Jessie Larui, President of the Solomon Islands Midwifery Society said this when she delivered her opening key note address at this year’s International Day of Midwives event in Honiara on Tuesday this week.
She said that midwives deliver about 87 percent of essential care for mothers and newborns.
She adds that strengthening midwifery services is directly linked to reduced maternal and newborn deaths and improved health outcomes.
Ms Larui said that midwives can provide more than 90 percent of essential sexual and reproductive health services.
“Expanding this workforce could prevent up to 67 percent of maternal deaths, 64 percent of newborn deaths, and 65 percent of stillbirths, potentially saving up to 4.3 million lives each year.
“Studies on midwifery-led care also reveal improved birth outcomes. Caesarean section rates can be reduced from 23.5 percent to 13.5 percent, while spontaneous vaginal births can increase from 64.2 percent to 78.7 percent. Midwifery care could also help avert up to 83 percent of maternal and neonatal deaths, while doubling the number of trained midwives could reduce maternal mortality by between 20 to 40 percent,” she said.
She said that the maternal mortality ratio in the Solomon Islands, currently stands at 123 per 100,000 live births.
She said that although there has been steady improvement, the figure remains above the global target of 70 per 100,000.
She said that infant mortality has declined to 13 per 1,000 live births, nearing the target of 12 per 1,000.
“However, challenges remain in family planning. The contraceptive prevalence rate is recorded at 29.3 percent, meaning 71 percent of women of childbearing age are not using contraceptives. This contributes to a high birth rate of 29 per 1,000 population, one of the highest in the Pacific.
“The pressure on health facilities is evident, with the National Referral Hospital recording between 5,000 to 6,000 births each year. Strengthening midwifery through education, regulation and professional association support has been identified as essential to building a more effective and resilient health system,” Ms. Larui said.
Photo credit: John Houanihau
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