β Scribed by Jennifer B. Lang; Elizabeth D. Elkin
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
ABSIRACT This is a descriptive study of the beliefs and practices of the traditional midwives in a rural Guatemalan village. During pregnancy and birth, traditional midwives who have received minimal or no training attend more than 8096 of the indigenous Mayan women. Data were obtained from interviews with the midwives and from direct observation of midwives attending births. The midwives had few skills with which to handle complications. They failed to use basic aseptic technique and were unfamiliar with lifesaving skills such as fundal massage and proper infant stimulation. Even though most of the midwives inter&wed had attended a Ministry of Health training course. they lacked basic knowfedge of safe obstetric practices. To reduce infant and maternal mortality rates, traditional midwives must be adequately trained. The teaching methods used by an indigenous Guatemalan group training ekjerly, illiterate midwives are described as an example of an effective training program. CJ 1997 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Traditional midwives in Guatemala attend approximately 80% of the country's bii. They provide the idgenow Mayan population wtth an important source of maternity care. only 17% of id@nols women receiw formal prenatal care, and only 10% are attended by a professional care provider during deliwry (1). Lack of access to adequately trained health care professionals contrib utes to Guatemab's hi rates of maternal and infant mortality. Many deaths mukl be avoided if traditional midwlws were taught simple techniques to provide a safe, clean bii (2-6). Before implementing b3ining programs, however, it is important to under&d the midwiws' current beliefs and practices. In 1993, w conductedastudytodeterrnine t.h&?knowlsdgedpractices oftraditionallnidwiwinan~s~sothat effe43lue teaching strategies cola be developed.
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## Abstract This paper presents the findings of research carried out in 1998β99 into the practices of seven British NGOs and solidarity organizations in consulting with local partner organizations in Guatemala. It considers this practice in the context of both the academic literature and the statem