How the integration of traditional birth attendants with formal health systems can increase skilled birth attendance

Abstract

Background: Forty years of safe motherhood programming has demonstrated that isolated interventions will not reduce maternal mortality sufficiently to achieve MDG 5. Although skilled birth attendants (SBAs) can intervene to save lives, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are often preferred by communities. Considering the value of both TBAs and SBAs, it is important to review strategies for maximizing their respective strengths. Objectives: To describe mechanisms to integrate TBAs with the health system to increase skilled birth attendance and examine the components of successful integration. Method: A systematic review of interventions linking TBAs and formal health workers, measuring outco..