A guide for TBA trainers : Training of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAS) / Meena Cabral … [et al].

“Programme of Maternal and Child Heath and Family Planning Division of Family Heath”—t.p.

Summary: Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) exist in the majority of developing countries of the world. They fulfill a vital community need by assisting the pregnant woman during labour, delivery and the immediate postpartum period. They provide midwifery services to about 75 million mothers and initial care to their infants every year.

The training of TBAs by itself is unlikely to strengthen MCH and family planning efforts, for while TBAs are taught to identify ‘at risk’ cases and emergencies, to make timely referrals, it is still up to the hospital and health centers to provide prompt and satisfactory referral support for such cases. The practice of skills learn by the TBAs will also require support with appropriate technology, proper maintenance of their supplies, ongoing interactive supervision and refresher training (p. 1).