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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versão On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versão impressa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.102 no.10 Pretoria Out. 2012
COMMENT
Addressing poor maternal and perinatal outcomes
D L Woods, G B Theron
Dave Woods, MD, FRCP, is Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, and Gerhard Theron, MD FCOG (SA), is Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, Western Cape
Schoon and Motlolometsi draw timely attention to the failure of the current health system to reduce the unacceptably high numbers of maternal and perinatal deaths in South Africa.1 They identify many obstacles, including the lack of appropriate inter-professional education in basic and advanced care. Both knowledge and a good understanding of the principles of prevention, diagnosis and management are needed to change practice. Protocol-driven training and skills workshops alone are unlikely to achieve the desired outcome. What is essential is an integrated package of good planning and management, well-equipped facilities, adequate staffing, shared protocols, good communication and transport, appropriate skills training and learning courses, and inspired leadership to develop a culture of caring. The emphasis should be on learning on-site and not centralised training.
With the limiting constraints on funding, adequate facilities and appropriately trained personnel for formal teaching, innovative methods are required to meet the overwhelming need for in-service training. This daunting challenge could be met by expanding the current use of the Perinatal Education Programme to enable groups of healthcare workers to take partial responsibility for their own continuing learning and professional growth.2 Experience with over 70 000 participants during the past 20 years plus extensive evaluation of the improvements in knowledge, attitudes, skills and practice in prospective trials demonstrate the opportunities offered by this cheap and effective methodology.3 Based on a broad consensus, the self-help learning material addresses a wide range of topics and is conveniently divided into modules and made available in paper, Internet, cell phone and Facebook formats. With a simple question-and-answer layout, case studies, self-assessment tests and clinical skills instructions it could be used to expand local or provincial training initiatives and promote standardised care for all mothers and their newborn infants. No longer can midwives and doctors claim that they do not have easy access to appropriate learning in order to provide quality maternity services.
References
1. Schoon MG, Motlolometsi MWA. Poor maternal outcomes: a factor of poor professional systems design. S Afr Med J 2012;102(10):784-786 (this issue). [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.6130] [ Links ]
2. Electric Book Works for Eduhealthcare. Cape Town. http://www.ebwhealthcare.com (accessed 27 August 2012). [ Links ]
3. Perinatal Education Programme for the Perinatal Education Trust. Cape Town. http://www.pepcourse.co.za/background/references (accessed 27 August 2012). [ Links ]
Corresponding author:
D Woods
(pepcourse@mweb.co.za)