Kuwait spends 2.2 % income on health
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s spending on the health sector increased by 86 percent during the period between 2005 and 2010. However, it totaled to only 2.2 percent of national income, stated a recent report prepared by the Skills Consulting and Public Relations Company. This was held in cooperation with experts in local health and development fields. The report published by Annahar daily yesterday states that the government spent KD 877 million on the health sector in 2010, while it only spent KD 470 million in 2005. The report, however, indicates that the quality of medical services provided during that period increased between five and 25 percent, according to studies held by Ministry of Health(MoH) statistics, reported Annahar.
In other news, Minister of Health and Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali has altered the pharmacy licensing law, according to which, a pharmacist must complete a minimum five years in the field after graduation before obtaining a license to open a private pharmacy, reported Al-Rai.
Source: Kuwait Times
Showing posts with label Health care policies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health care policies. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
55 732 babies born in Kuwait in 2011
31,525 Kuwaitis born in 2011
KUWAIT: Rashed Al-Azemi, Director of the Central Birth and Death Administration at the Ministry of Health, said that a total of 55,732 birth certificates and 5,816 death certificates were issued during 2011.
New born Kuwaiti babies totaled 31,525, of whom 15,635 were male and 15,890 were female.
More than 11,000 birth certificates were issued to the stateless residents, and 500 death certificates. He emphasized that forgery in birth and death certificates is almost non-existent, and in case of discovery they are sent to the Public Prosecution Department.
He said mistakes in the date of birth and death certificates are very limited and caused by a lack of information. He added that death and birth records for both Kuwaitis and expatriates are entered into computer records. —Al-Anbaa
Source: Kuwait Times
KUWAIT: Rashed Al-Azemi, Director of the Central Birth and Death Administration at the Ministry of Health, said that a total of 55,732 birth certificates and 5,816 death certificates were issued during 2011.
New born Kuwaiti babies totaled 31,525, of whom 15,635 were male and 15,890 were female.
More than 11,000 birth certificates were issued to the stateless residents, and 500 death certificates. He emphasized that forgery in birth and death certificates is almost non-existent, and in case of discovery they are sent to the Public Prosecution Department.
He said mistakes in the date of birth and death certificates are very limited and caused by a lack of information. He added that death and birth records for both Kuwaitis and expatriates are entered into computer records. —Al-Anbaa
Source: Kuwait Times
Monday, December 5, 2011
Reforms of health care system in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 4: Plans are under way to set up an independent national health authority in Kuwait which will steer efforts to transform healthcare in the country, according to the Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Quality in the Ministry of Health. Waleed Kh. Al-Falah told the global publishing, research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) that the Kuwait Health Authority will play a key role in overseeing major reforms earmarked for healthcare while also taking over some administrative functions from the Ministry. “We aim to develop a comprehensive health system in line with global trends,” he said. “Attention to health promotion and focusing on improving primary health care as a first point of entrance to the system is the most in-demand effective priority in the country.”
The move forms part of Kuwait’s broader plan to upgrade the quality of healthcare under the National Development Plan. It is also expected to bolster the country’s efforts to encourage public, private partnerships for health services expansion which include modernising existing facilities and building new hospitals and health centres. The interview forms part of the research for The Report: Kuwait 2012, OBG’s forthcoming guide on the State’s economic activity and investment opportunities. The Group’s latest report will include a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors, together with a wide range of interviews with the most prominent political, economic and business leaders.
Al-Falah highlighted the Ministry’s success in increasing the number of Kuwaiti doctors working in the country, adding that plans were under way to drive forward a similar initiative in the nursing profession. “At present, there is a concentrated effort to increase the percentage of the national nursing workforce,” he said. “Incentives and opportunities are being introduced offering higher training and post graduate degrees in Western countries which are well known for their excellent training in the field of nursing.” He acknowledged that Kuwait could prove to be fertile territory for health tourism which was expanding rapidly on a global level, but said legal reforms would be needed before the country could begin exploring its potential. “Kuwait has great potential for attracting patients from neighbouring countries,” he said. “At present, however, the public sector cannot sell its services to individuals or private corporations. A review of current legislations would be needed to allow this.”
The Report: Kuwait 2012 will mark the culmination of more than nine months of on-the-ground research by a team of analysts from OBG. It will provide information on opportunities for foreign direct investment into the country’s economy and will act as a guide to the many facets of the country including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and sectoral developments. The Report: Kuwait 2012 will be available in print form or online. Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America Through its range of print and online products, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sectoral developments, including banking, capital markets, insurance, energy, transport, industry and telecoms.
The Report: Kuwait 2012 is produced in partnership with the Kuwait Foreign Investment Bureau, KAMCO, ASAR and Moore Stephens. The critically acclaimed economic and business reports have become the leading source of business intelligence on developing countries in the regions they cover. OBG’s online economic briefings provide up-to-date in-depth analysis on the issues that matter for tens of thousands of subscribers worldwide. OBG’s consultancy arm offers tailor-made market intelligence and advice to firms currently operating in these markets and those looking to enter them.
Source: Arab Times
The move forms part of Kuwait’s broader plan to upgrade the quality of healthcare under the National Development Plan. It is also expected to bolster the country’s efforts to encourage public, private partnerships for health services expansion which include modernising existing facilities and building new hospitals and health centres. The interview forms part of the research for The Report: Kuwait 2012, OBG’s forthcoming guide on the State’s economic activity and investment opportunities. The Group’s latest report will include a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors, together with a wide range of interviews with the most prominent political, economic and business leaders.
Al-Falah highlighted the Ministry’s success in increasing the number of Kuwaiti doctors working in the country, adding that plans were under way to drive forward a similar initiative in the nursing profession. “At present, there is a concentrated effort to increase the percentage of the national nursing workforce,” he said. “Incentives and opportunities are being introduced offering higher training and post graduate degrees in Western countries which are well known for their excellent training in the field of nursing.” He acknowledged that Kuwait could prove to be fertile territory for health tourism which was expanding rapidly on a global level, but said legal reforms would be needed before the country could begin exploring its potential. “Kuwait has great potential for attracting patients from neighbouring countries,” he said. “At present, however, the public sector cannot sell its services to individuals or private corporations. A review of current legislations would be needed to allow this.”
The Report: Kuwait 2012 will mark the culmination of more than nine months of on-the-ground research by a team of analysts from OBG. It will provide information on opportunities for foreign direct investment into the country’s economy and will act as a guide to the many facets of the country including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and sectoral developments. The Report: Kuwait 2012 will be available in print form or online. Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America Through its range of print and online products, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sectoral developments, including banking, capital markets, insurance, energy, transport, industry and telecoms.
The Report: Kuwait 2012 is produced in partnership with the Kuwait Foreign Investment Bureau, KAMCO, ASAR and Moore Stephens. The critically acclaimed economic and business reports have become the leading source of business intelligence on developing countries in the regions they cover. OBG’s online economic briefings provide up-to-date in-depth analysis on the issues that matter for tens of thousands of subscribers worldwide. OBG’s consultancy arm offers tailor-made market intelligence and advice to firms currently operating in these markets and those looking to enter them.
Source: Arab Times
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Fear of Childbirth Increases Likelihood of C-Section, Study Suggests
Source: Science Daily
ScienceDaily (Sep. 23, 2011) — A new study published in the international journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS) reveals that fear of childbirth is a predisposing factor for emergency and elective cesarean sections, even after psychological counseling. This may mean a negative experience that lasts a lifetime among the approximately 3% of women who in this study were estimated to suffer from excessive fear of childbirth.
See Also:
Led by Professor Gunilla Sydsjo of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Hospital in Linköping, Central Sweden, researchers analyzed the antenatal and delivery records of 353 women who were referred to a unit for psychosocial obstetrics and gynecology because of fear of childbirth, and 579 women without fear of childbirth.
The researchers found that fear of childbirth affected obstetric outcomes and increased the frequency of emergency and elective cesarean sections. Induction of delivery was more common among the women with fear of childbirth (16.5%) as compared to the women without this problem (9.6%). Women with fear of childbirth who were scheduled for vaginal delivery were more often delivered by emergency cesareans and they also more often requested elective cesarean delivery.
"Maximal effort is necessary to avoid traumatizing deliveries, ensure early recognition of women with traumatic birth experiences, and provide psychological treatment for fear of childbirth," Sydsjo concludes.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Proposal To Build 3 Hospitals For Expats Residing In Kuwait Govt To Present New Health Insurance Draft
Source: Arab Times
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 10: The government will soon present a new health insurance draft bill to improve medical services in the country, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting informed sources.
Sources disclosed the government will submit the bill to the National Assembly in the next legislative round for review and approval. Sources explained the proposal is aimed at regulating treatment procedures in private hospitals abroad or in Kuwait. Sources said the government will pay installments of the proposed health insurance through the establishment of joint stock companies, in which 50 percent of the shares will be offered to the citizens and the remaining portion to specialized local and foreign corporations. Sources added the joint stock companies will construct hospitals, hire medical experts and purchase the necessary equipment to better serve the citizens.
Sources confirmed the proposal includes a social insurance scheme for expatriates, in addition to the construction of three hospitals exclusive for foreigners residing in Kuwait. Sources said these hospitals will be established in Jahra, Farwaniya and Ahmadi. Sources clarified the bill also states that the existing public hospitals will serve only the Kuwaitis and citizens of other Gulf countries upon completion of the hospitals for expatriates.
Sources disclosed the government will submit the bill to the National Assembly in the next legislative round for review and approval. Sources explained the proposal is aimed at regulating treatment procedures in private hospitals abroad or in Kuwait. Sources said the government will pay installments of the proposed health insurance through the establishment of joint stock companies, in which 50 percent of the shares will be offered to the citizens and the remaining portion to specialized local and foreign corporations. Sources added the joint stock companies will construct hospitals, hire medical experts and purchase the necessary equipment to better serve the citizens.
Sources confirmed the proposal includes a social insurance scheme for expatriates, in addition to the construction of three hospitals exclusive for foreigners residing in Kuwait. Sources said these hospitals will be established in Jahra, Farwaniya and Ahmadi. Sources clarified the bill also states that the existing public hospitals will serve only the Kuwaitis and citizens of other Gulf countries upon completion of the hospitals for expatriates.
International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization Newsletter - July 2011
Source: International MotherBaby Organization
Dear Friends of IMBCO, March 8th marked the annual International Women's Day, celebrating the incredible achievements, past, present and future, of women all over the world. Additionally, the global celebration on May 15th highlighted the importance of family on the International Day of Families. At IMBCO, we are working hard to improve the lives of women and families and we have made significant progress over the last few months. We are so excited to report the news to our invaluable supporters and sponsors. Highlighted in this issue you will find the opening of the first freestanding birth center in Uruguay, changes to the medical curriculum in Brazil, hope for greater women's rights in Israel, and exciting news from India, Slovenia, Australia, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Thank you to all of our Country Representatives for your contributions to moving IMBCO's goals forward, and to you for helping to make these accomplishments possible! Most sincerely, IMBCO www.imbci.org |
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Examples of Vertical Birthing In Austria and Canada: |
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Monday, August 15, 2011
Celebrate Solutions: Integrating Family Planning and Fuel Efficiency for Better Health, Environment
Source: Women Deliver
August 15th, 2011
By Rati Bishnoi, Special Projects Intern at Women Deliver
Rukia Seif holds an unusual place in her community.
In addition, to being a mother of three, Seif is a population, health, and environment (PHE) peer educator in her Tanzanian village on the outskirts of Saadani National Park.
In the role, Seif meets and talks to people in her village daily about simple solutions for improving their health and protecting the natural resources they depend upon. Two of these solutions include promoting fuel-efficient cooking stoves and family planning.
She tells her neighbors how mud stoves use less fuel than earlier models and help conserve forests for the future. Even though it is illegal, villagers cut wood for fuel to be used in more energy-reliant stoves. As a result, the neighboring forests are being depleted, smoke from stoves is worsening air quality, and unsustainable pressure is being placed on the very resources that provide Seif and her community food and livelihood.
Seif also talks to villages about modern contraceptive methods, focusing particularly on women who have closely-spaced pregnancies. Large family sizes which are caused by a high unmet need for family planning not only endanger the overall health of the family and mothers but also exacerbate the pressure on natural resources.
Rukia Seif holds an unusual place in her community.
In addition, to being a mother of three, Seif is a population, health, and environment (PHE) peer educator in her Tanzanian village on the outskirts of Saadani National Park.
In the role, Seif meets and talks to people in her village daily about simple solutions for improving their health and protecting the natural resources they depend upon. Two of these solutions include promoting fuel-efficient cooking stoves and family planning.
She tells her neighbors how mud stoves use less fuel than earlier models and help conserve forests for the future. Even though it is illegal, villagers cut wood for fuel to be used in more energy-reliant stoves. As a result, the neighboring forests are being depleted, smoke from stoves is worsening air quality, and unsustainable pressure is being placed on the very resources that provide Seif and her community food and livelihood.
Seif also talks to villages about modern contraceptive methods, focusing particularly on women who have closely-spaced pregnancies. Large family sizes which are caused by a high unmet need for family planning not only endanger the overall health of the family and mothers but also exacerbate the pressure on natural resources.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Water births come to UAE (Khaleej Times)
Source: Khaleej Times
Olivia Olarte
26 July 2011, 10:46 PM
26 July 2011, 10:46 PM
An age-old birthing practice that is proven to reduce pain but a novel concept in the Arab
world is coming to the UAE and is aining interest from women across the emirates.
world is coming to the UAE and is aining interest from women across the emirates.
The water birth method will be operational in the region for the first time in the Al Ain
Cromwell Women and Children Hospital in Al Ain next month when the hospital opens
up its in-patient services.
Cromwell Women and Children Hospital in Al Ain next month when the hospital opens
up its in-patient services.
According to Sandi Blankenship, head midwife at the hospital, water birth is very
popular in the UK and the US, and it is common for hospitals with the facility to offer
it for women to labour into if not to deliver.
popular in the UK and the US, and it is common for hospitals with the facility to offer
it for women to labour into if not to deliver.
“Typically between 50-70 per cent of women in the US would choose to at least
labour in the water,” said Blankenship, who have attended around 700 water births.
labour in the water,” said Blankenship, who have attended around 700 water births.
Citing its advantages, Blankenship said labouring in water can shorten the length of
labour and reduces the pain between 60–70 per cent, due to the warm water
temperature (between 35 degree Celsius and 37.5 degree Celsius) which has a
soothing effect.
“Because they are in a warm safe environment, they have less fear, and when you have
less fear you have less pain,” she explained. In the water birth tub, the woman also has
the opportunity to float and she can be in any position she’s comfortable in to labour
and deliver.
“It’s really about the woman’s comfort level. You want the baby to come out in an
environment he/she used to be in, by coming out into water,” said Blankenship.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Water birth comes to UAE
Published: Jul 6, 2011 09:10 Updated: Jul 6, 2011 09:10
Natural birth enthusiasts are all abuzz about the opening of a new hospital in Al-Ain that will offer birth in a specialized tub. Water births were first introduced in the 1960s and gained significant popularity by the 1990s. At first they were mainly used in the home birth setting, but they are now offered as a choice in many Western hospitals as well.
Dayle had a water birth at home in the US with her second child: “The water was warm and soothing. The warmth of the birth pool cut the pain of my contractions in half!”
Gertrude had a water birth in Germany with her first child and says, “The best thing was the warm, light feeling inside the water during the expulsion phase, water birth is great!”
Al-Ain Cromwell Women and Children Hospital’s birthing floor should be open next month and has three large birthing rooms, including one with a squatting stool and the first water birth pool in the region! This is exciting news for the women of Al-Ain and a ray of hope for other areas of the Middle East (including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and others) where natural-birth advocates are clamoring for more supportive birthing facilities.
“I’m most excited about their implementation of a midwifery model of care in which women are listened to as individuals and pregnancy is seen as a normal life event,” said Tami Stroud, a professional birth companion. “I have great hope for them. So many women just want a normal, safe, low intervention, natural childbirth and I think Al-Ain Cromwell Women and Children Hospital can deliver that.”
The maternity unit at the new hospital is led by American Midwife, Sandi Blankenship, a water birth expert.
“In a good hospital, 50 to 60 percent of mothers should be delivered by a midwife,” Blankenship says. In her private midwifery practice in the States she attended over 700 water births. She explains: “It’s important to follow a set protocol to determine which patients are allowed to use the water tub for birth. There also must be standard procedures for handling any complications while birthing in the water.”
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Mothers Deserve Options
Huffington Post`s Ricki Lake is asking questions about birthing culture in USA
I made my 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born to educate women about choices in childbirth, and raise questions about maternity care in the U.S. For example, why were C-section rates skyrocketing? Why were options such as birth centers and home birth disappearing? And why does a country supposedly committed to health care reform seem opposed to safe, cost-effective options that include midwifery and well-woman care?
The impact of the documentary was monumental. The blogosphere blew up (I can handle a few people yelling at me if it means my message is being heard!) Every day women stop me on the street to share stories of their safe, successful, meaningful births. Many say they felt "in the dark" about their options until seeing The Business of Being Born. But unfortunately, due to the highly medicalized climate of hospital births and the financial interests of insurance and drug companies, our birth options are disappearing at an alarming rate. It's seems that the more we know, the fewer choices we have. In the last five years, New York City alone has witnessed the shuttering of its only freestanding birth center, two hospital-based birth centers, a popular childbirth education center and a major hospital that offered privileges to a large number of hospital midwifery practices and home birth midwives. This has left many parents-to-be struggling to find birth options outside of the traditional OB/GYN approach.
NEWS RELEASE Global partners stand behind global standards for midwifery
ICM International Confederation of Midwives~s press release:
On the last day of the International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress in Durban, South Africa, global agencies have expressed their commitment to work with each other and with ICM to tackle maternal mortality. The UN Population Fund, World Health Organization (WHO), the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) have each pledged to support the implementation of ICM’s landmark global standards for midwifery education and regulation as a core strategy to tackle maternal mortality worldwide. Around 350,000 women die each year as a result of preventable complications in pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of these deaths happen in low income countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. Millennium Development Goal 5 commits countries to delivering significant improvements to maternal health worldwide but has been the slowest moving of all the MDGs so far.
‘Evidence shows that access to competent, educated and strong midwives significantly reduces maternal and infant mortality.’ said Bridget Lynch, President. ‘ICM set out on the Road to Durban three years ago, committed to reaching our destination with the tools needed to help governments around the world tackle unacceptable rates of maternal and infant mortality. Since then, we have worked with midwives of the world and our global partners to make sure we arrived with these tools in our hands. I am proud to say that we are now the first health profession in the world to have achieved global standards for the competency, education and regulation of our workforce. These, alongside the information provided by the UNFPA’s State of the World Midwifery Report will be essential to the achievement of each countries maternal mortality target.’
On the last day of the International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress in Durban, South Africa, global agencies have expressed their commitment to work with each other and with ICM to tackle maternal mortality. The UN Population Fund, World Health Organization (WHO), the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) have each pledged to support the implementation of ICM’s landmark global standards for midwifery education and regulation as a core strategy to tackle maternal mortality worldwide. Around 350,000 women die each year as a result of preventable complications in pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of these deaths happen in low income countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. Millennium Development Goal 5 commits countries to delivering significant improvements to maternal health worldwide but has been the slowest moving of all the MDGs so far.
‘Evidence shows that access to competent, educated and strong midwives significantly reduces maternal and infant mortality.’ said Bridget Lynch, President. ‘ICM set out on the Road to Durban three years ago, committed to reaching our destination with the tools needed to help governments around the world tackle unacceptable rates of maternal and infant mortality. Since then, we have worked with midwives of the world and our global partners to make sure we arrived with these tools in our hands. I am proud to say that we are now the first health profession in the world to have achieved global standards for the competency, education and regulation of our workforce. These, alongside the information provided by the UNFPA’s State of the World Midwifery Report will be essential to the achievement of each countries maternal mortality target.’
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Expert highlights advantage of human milk bank in UAE
Breast milk is the best nutrition for the newborn and exclusive breastfeeding of the infant is recommended up to 6 month of age by WHO . However, sometimes breastfeeding is difficult, like in cases of premature babies or babies born with certain diseases. Then, it can be replaced with breast milk from donor/ donors so baby can reap all benefits.
In State of Kuwait we have available these breastfeeding resources:
HM4HB- Kuwait Human Milk for Human Babies Kuwait : Facebook group
LLL Kuwait La Leche League Kuwait
Gulf Today informs us about initiative to establish Human Milk Bank in Dubai, UAE
DUBAI: As mothers in the UAE are becoming more aware of the benefits of breast milk, some may be unable to give the nourishment to their babies for various reasons.
A possible solution is the establishment of at least one human milk bank (HMB) in the country.
The concept was recently introduced to 750 pregnant and new mothers at a breastfeeding and child nutrition symposium in Dubai.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A Look at the Research: The Link Between Epidural Analgesia and Breastfeeding
Science & sensibility by Lamaze is bringing us a review of latest research on use of epidural analgesia with possible link to breastfeeding difficulties after the delivery.
It’s probably fair to say that most women who decide to have an epidural during labor don’t consider its possible impact on breastfeeding. Perhaps this is because no thought is given generally to any possible links between drugs and breastfeeding success (or otherwise). Instead, both pregnant (or laboring) women and caregivers usually assume that breastfeeding is a separate issue. Evidence from early research certainly doesn’t seem to support that view and a little common sense would also lead us to challenge it further…
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in New Mothers: Results from a Two-Stage U.S. National Survey
Article first published online: 20 MAY 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.2011.00475.x
MIDWIFE`S NOTES:
Pregnancy and labour may be diffucult and painful expirience for some women, leaving permanent impact on the life of the woman and her baby. This study identified main factors in onset of posttraumatic stress disorder. - low partner support
- elevated postpartum depressive symptoms
- more physical problems since birth
- less health-promoting behaviors
- eight variables significantly differentiated women who had elevated posttraumatic stress symptom levels from those who did not: no private health insurance, unplanned pregnancy, pressure to have an induction and epidural analgesia, planned cesarean birth, not breastfeeding as long as wanted, not exclusively breastfeeding at 1 month, and consulting with a clinician about mental well-being since birth.
State of World`s Mothers 2011
State of World`s Mothers 2011 by UN is yearly evaluation of the Mother`s Index.
Sadly, State of Kuwait is ranking No. 35 in category of less developed countries. You can read more about the Maternity Health Statistics in the Middle East and Human Development Report .
"What are the world's best and worst places to be a mother? The 12th annual Mothers' Index analyzes health, education and economic conditions for women and children in 164 countries.Norway ranks #1 this year and Afghanistan ranks last. The United States comes in at #31 among the 43 developed countries ranked. "
Sadly, State of Kuwait is ranking No. 35 in category of less developed countries. You can read more about the Maternity Health Statistics in the Middle East and Human Development Report .
Monday, June 20, 2011
UN spotlights role of midwives in improving maternal and children’s health
Source: UN News Centre
17 June 2011 –
17 June 2011 –
The United Nations is set to unveil a report highlighting the vital work of midwives in ensuring that millions of women and newborn children do not die needlessly at a time when many countries still lack enough skilled staff to serve as birth attendants.The report, The State of the World’s Midwifery 2011: delivering health, saving lives, is the first of its kind and draws on data gathered from 58 countries.
Co-authored by several UN agencies – including the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – and more than 20 international partners, it will be released on Monday at a global conference of midwives taking place in Durban, South Africa.
The report will examine the progress made so far on boosting the numbers of midwives, which are particularly critical to the achievement of two Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): boosting maternal health, and reducing child mortality.
Co-authored by several UN agencies – including the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – and more than 20 international partners, it will be released on Monday at a global conference of midwives taking place in Durban, South Africa.
The report will examine the progress made so far on boosting the numbers of midwives, which are particularly critical to the achievement of two Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): boosting maternal health, and reducing child mortality.
Home birth is on the rise. But is it safe? (US Consumer Report)
Source: Consumer Report US , May 26, 2011.
Less than one percent of babies in the U.S. are born at home. But after years of decline, home births are on the rise. Between 2004 and 2008, the rate of home births increased by 20 percent, according to a study published online May 20 in the journal Birth. Why? Maybe alienation with hospital care—where around a third of babies were delivered by Cesarean section in 2007—has some women wanting more control over what they consider a normal, natural experience. They want, in a sense, to stay home to stay safe. But are they right? Is home birth safe?
While the question is a polarizing one, at least in this country, several professional organizations say it can be for low-risk pregnancies if necessary precautions are taken. That includes the World Health Organization, the American Public Health Association, the National Perinatal Association, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
State of World`s Midwifery
UNFPA just published State of World`s Midwifery. Midwives are primary health care providers providing care for low-risk women during pregnancy, labour, after delivery, including the care for babies.
Increasing women's access to quality midwifery has become a focus of global efforts to realize the right of every woman to the best possible health care during pregnancy and childbirth. A first step is assessing the situation.
The State of World's Midwifery 2011: Delivering Health, Saving Lives, supported by 30 partners, provides the first comprehensive analysis of midwifery services and issues in countries where the needs are greatest.
The report provides new information and data gathered from 58 countries in all regions of the world. Its analysis confirms that the world lacks some 350,000 skilled midwives -- 112,000 in the neediest 38 countries surveyed -- to fully meet the needs of women around the world. The report explores a range of issues related to building up this key health workforce.
This page includes access to the full report in three languages, as well as related resources, applications, bibliographical information, individual country profiles and stories of midwives.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
World's first womb transplant planned
A British based businesswoman is preparing to make history by becoming the first person in the world to have her womb transplanted into her daughter. Source: Telegraph
Eva Ottosson, 56, has agreed to take part in a groundbreaking new medical procedure, which if successful could see her donate her uterus to her 25-year-old daughter Sara.
Pregnant women show an amazing lack of knowledge about childbirth options, study shows
Los Angeles Times asks how much we really know about our options in childbirth.
Fewer pregnant women and their partners are attending prenatal education classes these days and appear to be quietly following whatever advice the doctor or midwife recommends, researchers said Monday.
Doctors, led by Dr. Michael Klein of the Child & Family Research Institute and University of British Columbia, surveyed 1,318 healthy pregnant women. They found many seemingly unprepared to make their own decisions regarding childbirth options, such as whether to have natural childbirth or a Cesarean section.
Fewer pregnant women and their partners are attending prenatal education classes these days and appear to be quietly following whatever advice the doctor or midwife recommends, researchers said Monday.
Doctors, led by Dr. Michael Klein of the Child & Family Research Institute and University of British Columbia, surveyed 1,318 healthy pregnant women. They found many seemingly unprepared to make their own decisions regarding childbirth options, such as whether to have natural childbirth or a Cesarean section.
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