Launch of the Zimbabwe Midwives Group

38 Midwifery Launch of the Zimbabwe Midwives Group Describing the launch of the Zimbabwe Midwives Group as a major breakthrough in the history of nursing and midwifery, Mrs C. Nondo, President of the Zimbabwe Nurses' Association emphasised the vital role that the Group would play in strengthening the arms of nursing. During the morning of the launch day, 1 July 1995, papers were presented which focused on the way forward for midwives in promoting midwifery and women's and family health. Ms T. Hungwe, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, officially launched the Midwives' Group during the afternoon when the National Executive Office Bearers were elected. In a Keynote Address Dr Zawaira Director M O H and Child Health - said that 70% of all births in the three years prior to 1994 were attended by trained personnel, the rest being delivered at home by either trained or untrained Traditional Birth Attendants. The figures for 1994 from the Department of Health are shown in Table 1. A reduction in the fertility rate from 5.5 in 1988 to today's 4.4 and an increase in contraceptive prevalance rate from 36% to 42% were examples given of the crucial role played by midwives in the maternal and child health and family planning activities in the country. Midwives were challenged to review current practice and become active in the generation of research to benefit all communities. Proceedings of Launching Day Zimbabwe Midwives Group

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) has begun monitoring the extent and assessing the impact of breast feeding at national levels. The Global Participatory Action Research Project (GLOPAR) was set up in 1993 to look at breast feeding throughout the world, country by country. By developing national report cards it is hoped that countries will recognise any gaps in their own breast feeding promotion programmes. Fifteen countries are included in the pilot study. Issues uncovered by G L O P A R will form the basis of discussions at the WABA Global Forum to be held in Thailand in December 1996. UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Information Newsletter September 1995

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KAP Survey on Fertility and Contraception in Cambodia

This major survey, the first on fertility, maternal health and contraceptive knowledge and use in Cambodia is an integral part of a National Maternal and Child Health Centre of the Ministry of Health. It is funded by the Overseas Development Administration of the British Government, assisted by the United Nations Population Fund, directed by a steering committee and implemented by Save the Children Fund (UK) and CARE International. The survey design covered 60% of the country's population and revealed that marriage is universal in Cambodia. Four per cent of women aged 40-44 years remain single and 17% have been widowed, reflecting Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative the high male mortality in the 25 years of conflict and Khmer Rouge regime. Thirteen The Jessop Women's Hospital in Sheffield, per cent of married women are currently UK, has been named as the second Baby using some form of contraception although Friendly Hospital in the United Kingdom. only 7% reported use of a modern method. There are now a total of 132 hospitals desigAmong those not currently pregnant the nated in Europe and over 3000 worldwide. demand for contraception was 91%; 53% Baby Milk Action Update 17 November 1995 wanted to stop having children and 38% preferred to delay the next birth for at least two ii!i!ii~iiiiiiii}iiiiiiiii}iiii~i~i~{~i~iiiii!~iiiiiiii}i{iiiiiiii~iiiii~i~ii~iii~i~ii~iiiii!iiiiiiiiiii~{~ii{~i~i~iiii!i!i!iiiiiiiiii!ii{~iiiiiii~i~i~iii~ii~i~!i!ii!i!iiiiiiiiiiiii~ii{~i~{ii~ii~iiiii~i~i~i!i!iiiiiiiiiii years. Information and implications from this survey need to be recognised in the development of both policy and major progammes to effect birth spacing aimed to improve the quality of Antenatal care Assistance at women's and children's health. The survey also received from delivery by revealed that almost half of women who had given birth during the past five years had not Nurse or Age of Nurse or received any antenatal care, whilst 40% had Doctor Midwife Mother Doctor Midwife been attended by a midwife. Traditional Birth Attendants attended 56% of deliveries, whilst 20.1 75.3 <20 13.1 57.9 midwives attended 41%. 22.3 70.9 20-34 13.2 57.6 KAP Survey on Fertility and Contraception in 15.4 73.8 35 + 7.8 50.2 Cambodia July 1995

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