title: Does traditional birth attendant training increase use of antenatal care? A review of the evidence.
abstract: A combined narrative review and metanalytic review was conducted to summarize published and unpublished studies completed between 1970 and 2002 on the relationship between traditional birth attendant (TBA) training and increased use of professional antenatal care (ANC). Fifteen studies (n = 15) from 8 countries and 2 world regions were analyzed. There are, to varying degrees, positive associations between TBA training and TBA knowledge of the value and timing of ANC services, TBA behavior in offering advice or assistance to obtain ANC, and compliance and use of ANC services by women cared for by TBAs or living in areas served by TBAs. There is a serious lack of information about TBA training program characteristics. Although the findings cannot be causally attributed to TBA training, the results suggest that training may increase ANC attendance rates by about 38%. This magnitude of improvement could contribute to a reduction in maternal and perinatal mortality in areas where women have access to quality antenatal and emergency obstetric care. There is an urgent need to improve capacity for evaluation and research of the effect of TBA training programs and other factors that influence women's use of ANC services.
authors.affiliation: Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. lsibley@emory.edu
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sibley
authors.forename: Theresa Ann
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sipe
authors.forename: Marge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koblinsky
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D016387:Women's Health; D014944:World Health Organization