Speakers: Fadiah Maharani and Josi Noviani
Facilitator: Marcela Mendoza
Background: The nutrition of a newborn during the initial six months is crucial, and exclusive breastfeeding is advised to fulfill these requirements. Nonetheless, numerous variables, including employed mothers, sometimes obstruct attaining exclusive breastfeeding objectives. The WHO established Global Nutrition Targets 2025 aiming for at least 50% of newborns to be exclusively breastfed; however, current data indicates that some regions, including Indonesia, have failed to achieve these targets.
Case report: Our presentation examines the continuity of care activities of a 28-year-old woman, a working mother who dedicated herself to exclusive breastfeeding upon returning to work. The care encompasses health promotion, the advantages of exclusive breastfeeding, nutrition to enhance breast milk production, engagement of support networks, preparation of exclusive breastfeeding management, and oxytocin massage techniques. There were factors influencing the success of exclusive breastfeeding, such as the hospital policy forbidding formula milk distribution to newborns. This policy relies on the adherence of healthcare professionals who encourage and motivate mothers to maintain exclusive breastfeeding without introducing formula milk. This support is provided during pregnancy and extends into the postpartum period, with the expectation that continuity of care initiatives will significantly benefit aided mothers and enhance the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding among working women.
Conclusion: Ongoing support from family and continuity of care from health professionals are crucial in enabling working women to breastfeed exclusively. Engagement of family members and modifications to workplace policies can enhance the likelihood of successful exclusive breastfeeding.
Speakers: Pronita Raha, Joy Kemp and Judith McAra-Couper
Facilitator: Elisa Segoni
Development of midwife faculty is key for quality midwifery education but globally the quality and availability of programmes to develop midwife faculty is variable. In Bangladesh, where international-standard midwifery education is still new, faculty do not yet meet the ICM midwife teacher standard. Faculty are nurse-midwives, though the new generation of direct-entry midwives will soon take up positions in education. This presentation describes a peer-mentorship programme for midwifery faculty in Bangladesh, enabling them to teach the new curriculum through non-didactic pedagogical approaches in theory and practice settings.
In 2021, twenty national peer-mentors received online preparation by midwifery faculty from New Zealand. A series of national and local stakeholder briefings took place at key points throughout the programme, COVID-19 permitting. From 2022-2024 peer-mentors conducted in-person quarterly visits to midwifery education institutions in Bangladesh, providing mentorship to 370 midwifery faculty and monitoring the quality of midwifery education. A digital community of practice was created to connect faculty with the peer-mentors, with each other and with teaching resources. Baseline and endline data were collected using a checklist based on WHO midwifery educator competencies, then entered onto a digital dashboard; qualitative data were collected by survey questionnaire then analysed thematically.
A process evaluation of the programme in 2024 found that peer-mentorship had been effective in enabling faculty to implement the curriculum, to improve the learning environment and increase students’ exposure to midwife-led care models in practice. The programme may not be generalisable across all midwifery education institutions or outside of Bangladesh.
Speaker: Carla Godoy
Facilitator: Susana Ku
Las parteras desempeñan un papel fundamental en la salud y el bienestar de nuestras comunidades, pero han enfrentan desafÃos como la falta de reconocimiento, apoyo institucional y oportunidades laborales. Es esencial fortalecer su rol, generar empleo y garantizar el respeto por su labor.
Más que un oficio, ser partera es una vocación que implica acompañar a las madres en momentos cruciales con profesionalismo y seguridad. Sin embargo, a pesar de su importancia histórica, muchas veces no reciben el reconocimiento que merecen. Para cambiar esta realidad, es clave impulsar oportunidades laborales en hospitales, clnicas y programas comunitarios de salud.
La solución pasa por la organización, la creación de redes de apoyo y la búsqueda de alianzas con el sector público y privado. Al unir fuerzas, es posible reducir el desempleo dentro de la comunidad de parteras y asegurar que su labor sea vista como indispensable para el bienestar social.
El camino hacia un mayor reconocimiento y estabilidad laboral requiere compromiso y trabajo conjunto. La unión de las parteras es su mayor fortaleza para lograr que su profesión sea valorada y esencial en la sociedad.
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Midwives play a fundamental role in the health and well-being of our communities, but they have faced challenges such as a lack of recognition, institutional support, and job opportunities. It is essential to strengthen their role, create jobs, and ensure respect for their work.
More than a profession, being a midwife is a vocation that involves accompanying mothers in crucial moments with professionalism and confidence. However, despite their historical importance, they often do not receive the recognition they deserve. To change this reality, it is key to promote job opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and community health programs.
The solution lies in organization, the creation of support networks, and the pursuit of partnerships with the public and private sectors. By joining forces, it is possible to reduce unemployment within the midwifery community and ensure that their work is seen as indispensable to social well-being.
The path to greater recognition and job stability requires commitment and collaborative work. The unity of midwives is their greatest strength in ensuring that their profession is valued and essential in society.
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