Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations: optimizing health worker roles to improve access to key maternal and newborn health interventions through task shifting
Year of Publication2012
Issuing InstitutionWHO
Recommendation
Status
Updated
We recommend the use of MIDWIVES to deliver the following interventions, with targeted monitoring and evaluation: delivery a maintenance dose of magnesium sulphate to treat eclampsia and refer to a higher facility.
Notes and Remarks
- 1.We suggest that the intervention be used in settings where midwives are working alone in primary care and it is not routinely possible to access cadres with higher levels of training. Since appropriate care of a woman with preeclampsia and eclampsia requires a team effort, referral to higher care should be sought
- 2.Planners need to consider a number of issues when shifting tasks from one health worker cadre to another. These include the distribution of roles among cadres, regulatory issues, stakeholder involvement, training and supervision, systems for referral, supply chains, and possible changes to payments or other incentives
- 3.Programmes need to ensure that this task promotes continuity of care and that all midwives are ‘upskilled’ to deliver this task to all potential recipients.