title: Impact of Training of Traditional Birth Attendants on Maternal Health Care: A Community-based Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the impact of Training of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) on maternal health care in a rural area.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interventional study in the Primary Health Center area was conducted over 1-year period between March 2006 and February 2007, which included all the 50 Traditional Birth Attendants (30 previously trained and 20 untrained), as study participants. Pretest evaluation regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices about maternal care was done. Post-test evaluation was done at the first month (early) and at the fifth month (late) after the training. Analysis was done by using Mc. Nemer's test, Chi-square test with Yates's correction and Fischer's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early and late post-test evaluation showed that there was a progressive improvement in the maternal health care provided by both the groups. Significant reduction in the maternal and perinatal deaths among the deliveries conducted by TBAs after the training was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training programme for TBAs with regular follow-ups in the resource-poor setting will not only improve the quality of maternal care but also reduce perinatal deaths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka India ; Sri Shanta Nilaya, Near SBM, Hirekalmatt Road, Davangere, Honnali, 577217 Karnataka India.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Satishchandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka India.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka India.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wantamutte
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka India.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mallapur
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka India.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Sangolli
keywords: Maternal health care; Maternal mortality; Traditional birth attendants; Training