The project seeks to promote antenatal care visits and safe delivery among pregnant women in a rural community in Liberia. The Ministry of Health antenatal care policy mandates that all pregnant women should make at least 4 antenatal care visits during the term of their pregnancy. Serene will train 15 traditional midwives (TTM) and 15 community health volunteers (CHV) to support and monitor pregnant women within the community to ensure that they are adhering to scheduled visits.
Liberia maternal mortality rate is among the worst in the world with 1,072 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the 2013 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey. Infant mortality is 65.8 deaths/1,000. Only 32% of rural births are attended by skilled personnel in Liberia. At least 70% of all births occur in rural areas; 67.8% takes place without skilled birth assistants, thereby putting women at significant risk of maternal mortality/morbidity. Only about 55% of women nationwide attend ANC.
This project will improve antenatal care amongst pregnant women in Louisiana by training 15 traditional midwives and 15 community health volunteers to support and monitoring pregnant women in ensuring that they are adhering to scheduled ANC visits. To encourage facility delivery, women who deliver at the health facility will receive a package that includes several items costing approximately $50.00. This is intended to support women immediately after delivery and to encourage facility delivery.
This project will increase antenatal care visits among pregnant women and promote delivery conducted by trained birth attendants, thereby leading to reduction in maternal and infant mortality. 200 pregnant women will benefit from this project. More women will achieve the target of 4 antenatal care visits during pregnancy. The only maternal waiting home in this community will be renovated and maintained as well as staffed to support women who come in for short stay to await delivery.
