title: A report of a midwifery model for training traditional midwives in Guatemala.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe the specific characteristics of one model of training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in Guatemala.
  
  
  METHODS
  participant observation, unstructured and semi-structured interviews undertaken between 1997 and 2003 to gather the data to report on the characteristics of this training programme as it is evolving in the field.
  
  
  METHODS
  the birth centre site of Ixmucane in Antigua, Guatemala, as well as community sites in the Departments of Saquetepequez, Chimaltenango, and Quetzaltenango in the western highlands of Guatemala.
  
  
  METHODS
  traditional midwives, certified nurse-midwives and certified professional midwives, as well as many allied health professionals and volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  training philosophy, participant selection, curriculum content, intensity, and planned follow-up are the key components of the training programme described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  93 TBAs have received training through the development of a 150 hrs contact course for self-selected TBAs in the Midwives for Midwives Program. Formal evaluation of this training is underway but results are not yet available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the value of incorporating midwifery philosophy and praxis in TBA training has received scant attention in the TBA literature. This report suggests that TBA training programme characteristics are important considerations in any evaluation of training efficacy of TBAs to improve maternal-child health.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Massachusetts, Arnold House 314, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. jwfoster@nursing.umass.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doe-Simkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011247:Pregnancy