Prevention of postpartum haemorrhage by community-based auxiliary midwives in hard-to-reach areas of Myanmar: A qualitative inquiry into acceptability and feasibility of task shifting

Abstract

Background: In Myanmar, postpartum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality and contributes to around 30% of all maternal deaths. The World Health Organization recommends training and supporting auxiliary midwives to administer oral misoprostol for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in resource-limited settings. However, use of misoprostol by auxiliary midwives has not formally been approved in Myanmar. Our study aimed to explore community and provider perspectives on the roles of auxiliary midwives and community-level provision of oral misoprostol by auxiliary midwives. Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted in Ngape Township, Myanmar. A total of 15 focus group discuss..