Speakers: Eunice Iluobe Akhigbe and Ridwan Abdusalam
Facilitator: Linda Wylie
Neonatal jaundice is a common but potentially serious condition caused by elevated bilirubin levels, which, if left untreated, can lead to kernicterus, an irreversible neurological disorder. While advances in neonatal care have improved management, myths and misconceptions continue to delay timely healthcare-seeking behavior, particularly in underserved communities.
This study explores the impact of cultural beliefs on neonatal jaundice management, emphasizing the critical role of midwives in community education, early diagnosis, and timely medical intervention. A review of clinical data, community health reports, and maternal health education programs highlights key misconceptions, including: The belief that jaundice is harmless and does not require medical attention. The misconception that sunlight exposure alone can cure jaundice, delaying hospital visits. Cultural remedies discouraging breastfeeding, leading to dehydration and worsening hyperbilirubinemia.
To combat these challenges, this study recommends:
- Community education campaigns to promote awareness of neonatal jaundice risks and medical care.
- Midwife training and engagement to strengthen their role in addressing myths and guiding caregivers.
- Integration of traditional and medical practices through collaboration with community leaders.
- Improved access to phototherapy and neonatal care, especially in rural areas.
- Mother-to-mother peer support networks, such as the Wellbeing Foundation Mamacare WhatsApp groups.
- Policy advocacy for neonatal jaundice screening programs at birth and early postnatal visits.
By addressing misconceptions through midwife-led education and advocacy, this approach enhances early intervention, reduces neonatal complications, and improves health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Speaker: Elsie Gayle
Facilitator: Celine Lemay
Mothers and Babies of African Descent have some of the poorest outcomes of the childbearing continuum irrespective of their gross national income (GNI) per capita, whether low, medium or high income countries.
The establishment of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent at the United Nations (Geneva) in December 2022 began the journey to create a dedicated forum to focus on midwives and mothers who are on the ground delivering and receiving maternity care within those communities. Mother and Midwives Across the Diaspora has made intervention at each Permanent Forum Session to support this work.
The aim of the presentation is to share the journey to date of this unique network, to refocus on the value of midwifery to ameliorating mortality and morbidity of Black mothers and babies worldwide. It will describe the approach being used to garner the knowledge and skills of midwives across the world, utilising every means of supporting professional and vocational approaches to achieve its aims. It will share outcomes and achievements. The presentation will welcome ongoing support of delegates in the furthering of good global midwifery relationships.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent
Check time in your location https://bit.ly/VIDM25-session-22
Speaker: Yvonne Meyer
Facilitator: Celine Lemay
Sages-femmes dans certaines publications. C’est le cas pour l’inscription de notre activité professionnelle au patrimoine immatériel UNESCO où, dans l’annonce en français, le mot sage-femme est absent du titre. Comment sont présentées les sages-femmes ailleurs ? Neuf documents ont été repérés qui ont pour titre l’art, les soins, la pratique, les sciences ou la profession de sage-femme. Les résumés de ces documents seront présentés, ainsi que l’analyse réalisée, basée sur les critères de soins centrés sur le patient (Rycroft-Maloine, 2004). Les résultats montrent que toutes ces formulations sont polysémiques et qu’elles n’ont pas exactement la même portée. Par contre, toutes présentent haut et fort les sages-femmes et ce qui les caractérise. Si UNESCO avait titré « Les soins de sage-femme : connaissances, savoir-faire et pratiques », les sages-femmes seraient visibles partout dans le monde francophone.
The theme of the intervention is motivated by a regrettable problem of visibility of midwives in certain publications. This is the case for the inclusion of our professional activity in UNESCO’s intangible heritage list, where, in the French announcement, the word sage-femme is absent from the title. How are midwives presented elsewhere? Nine documents have been identified that deal with the art, care, practice, science or profession of midwifery. Summaries of these documents will be presented, along with the analysis carried out, based on the criteria of patient-centred care (Rycroft-Maloine, 2004). The results show that all these formulations are polysemous and do not have exactly the same scope. However, they all make a strong case for midwives and what characterises them. If UNESCO had published the title « Les soins de sage-femme: connaissances, savoir-faire et pratiques » (‘Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices’), midwives would be visible throughout the French-speaking world.
Check time in your location https://bit.ly/VIDM25-closing-session
