Pregnancy and Birth Care

Midwifery and Task-Sharing to Improve Maternal and Neonatal Health (Mnh) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (Srh) Care in Mexico

In 2016 Gynuity commenced a project in Mexico to increase awareness among clinical providers and health care administrators about best practices for low-risk pregnancies and births, and more broadly, the continuum of maternal and neonatal health (MNH) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). We seek to foster an enabling environment for the entry of professional midwives and obstetric nurses into the healthcare system through the following activities:

• Compile and disseminate evidence-based resources on task-sharing MNH and SRH care into a resource compendium and create a one-day course based on key concepts from the resource compendium.
• Identify and prepare multidisciplinary teams of clinical trainers and spokespersons to lead dissemination efforts.
• Educate medical practitioners and students on best practices for low-risk pregnancy and birth and the continuum of MNH and SRH care.
• Explore health care administrator willingness to integrate midwifery professionals in their services.

We evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and perception of course participants and will disseminate results in 2019. This effort is part of a large initiative funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to promote professional midwifery care in health systems broadly in Mexico.

Midwifery Community of Practice in Mexico

This community of practice is a virtual space for civil society organizations and other actors interested in strengthening midwifery in Mexico. It seeks to strengthen the collective learning through the exchange of successful experiences and lessons learned. Gynuity has been participating in the Comunidad de Partería de México since its inception sharing a large compendium of resources in Spanish and English including evidence-based research, clinical practice guidelines and training resources for professionals working in the midwifery arena.