Speaker: Arafin Happy Mim and Toma Ray
Facilitator: Margaret Aoro Adongo and Yosef Alemayehu Gebrehiwot
We are two young midwife leaders (23 years old) in Bangladesh who are board members of our midwives’ association (MA) and have recently graduated from an international leadership development programme. One works in a government health centre, the other in a Rohingya refugee camp. During 2022 we used quality improvement (QI) methodology to help our MA recruit and retain its members, and to develop guidance on responding to various types of emergency situations, which happen frequently in Bangladesh.
Discussion: MAs are examples of women-led civil-society organisations that can improve gender-equity and access to sexual and reproductive health rights, and act as agents for the profession (Mattison et al 2021). They have potential to impact each element of the ICM’s professional framework for midwifery. As midwifery is a new profession in Bangladesh, the midwives association (the Bangladesh Midwifery Society) is led by young women who are enthusiastic but inexperienced in organisational governance and leadership. A structured programme that taught us QI methodology was helpful for our leadership development, enabling us to drive change in our workplaces and in our MA.
Conclusions/Summary: We found it hard to apply QI methods to organisational development but we made it work. By sharing our lessons learned we hope to help other midwives and midwives’ associations understand how they can improve the quality of their services.
Reference: Mattison et al (2021) doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004850
Recording: youtu.be/IcuXTEOj7WQ
VIDM is not over yet! Following the closing Keynote speaker, stay right where you are for the closing events.
Facilitator: Lorraine Mockford
VIDM founder Sarah Stewart is back with a taste of her comedy routine: Donuts, Fireman Sam, and living with a hoarder!
Sarah Stewart is a midwife, nurse and stand up comedian. Sarah has performed comedy around Australia and is a member of the very successful comedy team, The Women’s Room, who have just had 2 sold out seasons at the Canberra Comedy Festival. Sarah has lots to say about being a wife, mother, getting old and of course….being a midwife. Sarah will be performing in her pyjamas, in bed, and feeling like a right wally because virtual comedy is weird. The good news for Sarah is if you heckle her, she can just mute you!
Then join the VIDM Organizing Committee, volunteers, and delegates as we say thank-you for another year by sharing our closing video with you.
Recording FINAL closing slideshow selfie photos – https://youtu.be/5r7DqvZ5or4
Speakers: Linley Taylor and Claire Macdonald
Facilitator: Linda Deys
Abstract:
Background – Natural disasters are usually unexpected and sudden, carrying prolonged after-effects for communities. Throughout disasters, pregnant women and people continue to give birth, so midwives must continue providing essential care for pregnancy, labour and birth and postpartum. Aotearoa New Zealand has universal health coverage for maternity care through a community midwifery continuity-of-care model, integrated with hospital-based midwifery and obstetric services. This enabled continuous care provision throughout the Canterbury earthquakes in 2011-2012, and Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay in 2023. However, there were unforeseen challenges. In a high-resource country, the unexpected loss of transport (including road damage) and phone/internet connectivity during the cyclone highlighted our heavy reliance on technology. Discussion – We share experiences from practice in the midwifery caseloading model which enabled a nimble and often autonomous response to meet clients’ needs. Factors supporting midwives’ care provision were: responsibility for a caseload; carrying full homebirth kits in their cars; group practice arrangements; strong interdisciplinary collegial relationships; integration with hospital services; and national support from the College of Midwives. Planning for the future should include infrastructural support for community midwives; satellite internet phone connectivity; access to generators and fuel; the inclusion of community health provision in Civil Defence planning; and contemplation by midwives as to how ready they might be in their personal lives if disaster struck today. Conclusion – Community caseloading midwifery models should be protected, supported and included in future disaster planning.
Recording: https://youtu.be/vEe1E2iBTJY
Speaker: Isabella Garti
Facilitator: Caitlin Goodwin
Abstract:
Midwifery holds relevance across diverse settings, as the proficiency of midwives plays a crucial role in the provision of care for women facing complications. In Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), such as Ghana, a significant number of maternal and neonatal deaths result from insufficient or delayed handling of preventable complications, notably pre-eclampsia. Continuous training is particularly essential for midwives in LMICs, to effectively respond to the increasing demand for specialised care in pre-eclampsia. As part of a mixed method evaluation of multi-level factors influencing midwives’ management of pre-eclampsia in Ghana, we conducted a hospital-based quantitative cross-sectional study in 2021 to determine the pre-eclampsia specific training needs of midwives. Midwives completed an adapted version of the WHO Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Analysis questionnaire. Midwives required training in 14 priority areas mainly in the research and clinical domains. Training courses were identified as the preferred approach to address training needs and improve overall proficiency. Midwifery is an essential sustainable resource for improved pre-eclampsia outcomes in LMICs. The implementation of context-specific training, integrating innovative and contemporary approaches, holds paramount significance in this regard.
Recording – not available
Speaker: Arafin Happy Mim
Facilitators:Raissa Manika Purwaningtias & Constance Odonkor(shadow)
Abstract:
I am Mim, a Young Midwife Leader from Bangladesh. One year ago, I assumed the role of supervisor of midwives on Basanchar, a remote island near Hatiya Upazilla, Bangladesh, catering to 32,574 people and 7899 families, many of whom were Rohingya refugees relocated from Coxs Bazar. The island faces numerous health challenges, especially for women and children, with limited access to medical facilities, requiring Navy Frigate transportation twice weekly. Upon arrival, I encountered midwives lacking confidence and support in their practice. As the first midwife supervisor, doubts surrounded my leadership abilities, compounded by the democratic system’s challenges. Despite skepticism, I prioritized listening, reflection, and evidence-based advocacy to empower midwives and amplify their voices. Through collaborative efforts, we transformed the team, nurturing leadership skills and expanding their scope of practice. With a multidisciplinary approach, we now offer comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and manage most complications locally, minimizing the need for external transfers. Looking ahead, our focus is on community awareness, affirming the pivotal role of midwives, and ensuring their practice aligns with standards. Continued education and research will further enhance our contributions to midwifery in Bangladesh, fostering a culture of quality care and acceptance in Basanchar.
Recording: https://youtu.be/_PO0Pisbxww
Speakers: Rowsan Ara, Joy Kemp and Nabila Purno
Facilitator: Linda Wylie
Abstract:
Bangladesh is one of the most climate-change affected countries. Regular natural disasters, extreme heat, air-pollution and outbreaks of vector-borne diseases put thousands of pregnant women at risk, particularly in hard-to-reach locations with limited access to healthcare services. Midwives play a crucial role in addressing these challenges; they are often the first point-of-contact for women in the healthcare settings and can orient women about birth preparedness, disaster preparedness and in general protecting their health from known environmental and climate risks. The Government of Bangladesh has a workforce of 7,230 midwives. In 2023, a training manual on the Climate-Change Impacts on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Bangladesh was developed by CCHPU and UNFPA then reviewed with national experts. Existing curriculum review found commendable inclusion of gender equality, reproductive health and rights, and disaster management but weak content on the intersection between climate change and health. A three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) program was thus developed, targeting 20 Nursing and Midwifery faculty, serving as a catalyst to disseminate essential knowledge and equip educators with the tools to integrate climate change perspectives into their teaching methodologies. A series of cascade training ensued, with a day-long training for final-year Midwifery students and a specialized session for 50 practicing midwives across various health facilities. These efforts underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring a health-workforce well-versed in addressing climate-change impacts, particularly concerning sexual and reproductive health. This content must now be integrated into nursing and midwifery curricula across all education levels.
