The following excerpt is from a February 18, 2010 article published by CBC News. To read the article in its entirety, please click here.
The rate of stillbirths in developing countries fell more than 30 per cent after birth attendants received basic training in newborn care, researchers have found. The randomized, controlled trial included 62,366 infants in six countries: Argentina, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guatemala, India, Pakistan and Zambia. The World Health Organization estimates there are more than three million stillbirths worldwide each year, and nearly four million infants die in their first month of life.
Traditional birth attendants, who are typically lay midwives, attended 40 per cent of the deliveries and nearly 75 per cent in the DRC. Participants were trained in routine newborn care, including:
- Resuscitation of babies who have stopped breathing.
- Keeping the baby warm.
- “Kangeroo care” of skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby.
- Common illnesses…
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