Reducing infant mortality - the role of the midwife
Abstract
Too many babies and children in South Africa are dying unnecessarily, despite the fact that our health care system
is one of the more advanced on the African continent. It is clear from the avoidable factors identified when reviewing
these cases of deaths, that there is a lot we can do to reduce the number of infant deaths, and the midwife, as a
key role player, can impact greatly if the right measures are taken to improve care and caring for these patients. The most important change that will have to be made, is to improve the clinical skills required to manage pregnancy and labour and identify risk factors, but then also to act appropriately to these risk factors.
is one of the more advanced on the African continent. It is clear from the avoidable factors identified when reviewing
these cases of deaths, that there is a lot we can do to reduce the number of infant deaths, and the midwife, as a
key role player, can impact greatly if the right measures are taken to improve care and caring for these patients. The most important change that will have to be made, is to improve the clinical skills required to manage pregnancy and labour and identify risk factors, but then also to act appropriately to these risk factors.