Accessing Safe Deliveries in Tanzania (IMCHA)

This project aims to address Tanzania's critical need for reducing maternal and newborn deaths. It will build on the country's comprehensive emergency obstetrical and newborn care strategy by implementing proven intervention strategies: training on emergency obstetrical care and post-training mentorship and support.

Maternal and newborn mortality in Tanzania
Tanzania has placed a priority on improving access to obstetrical and neonatal care in health facilities. This is currently a major barrier to reducing deaths. Few healthcare workers are trained to offer emergency obstetrical care, so timely access to services for safe birthing is a challenge. There is also insufficient support and mentorship from senior staff, lack of motivation to participate in training courses, and limited equipment to support obstetrical interventions.

To reduce some of these gaps, associate clinicians, midwives, and nurses need training and skills upgrading. This will help meet the demand for life-saving emergency obstetrical procedures for mothers and their newborns. This promising training approach is often referred to as task shifting and forms part of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health's comprehensive emergency obstetrical and newborn care strategy.

Toward improved health on a national scale
The project will rank barriers and highlight factors that support a national scale-up process. With better access to skilled care and emergency services, the project aims to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes throughout Tanzania. It will also identify and improve activities that increase community members' access to comprehensive care.

The project team will publish evidence on the effectiveness of the comprehensive emergency obstetrical and newborn care training program as it relates to health service delivery and health outcomes. Researchers will submit policy briefs to government officials and use a Web-based reporting tool to share lessons learned. They will organize training workshops to enhance collaboration among researchers and decision-makers.

Project partners
This project is part of the Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa program. The program is a seven-year $36 million initiative funded by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).