Home-based life-saving skills in Liberia: acquisition and retention of skills and knowledge.
BACKGROUND
In 2006, Home-Based Life-Saving Skills was introduced in three Liberian counties, in partnership with Africare-Liberia and the Liberian Ministry of Health and with funding by the United States Agency for International Development.


METHODS
Traditional midwives and trained traditional midwives (N = 412) underwent pre- and immediate posttesting on four topics. Three hundred eighty-nine (94%) of the original participants also completed 1-year follow-up posttesting.


RESULTS
Mean scores significantly improved between pre- and immediate posttests and knowledge improvement was stable at 1 year. Correct responses on individual steps for each of four topics significantly increased over the course of training. The data demonstrate a major change in the knowledge base of the traditional and trained traditional midwives acting as village guides.


CONCLUSIONS
Home-Based Life-Saving Skills is a viable means by which to improve community knowledge and decrease maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Lori
Jody R
JR
Majszak
Christina M
CM
Martyn
Kristy K
KK
D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007391:International Cooperation; D007988:Liberia; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare