Midwives and Front Line Workers are Educating Pregnant Women and Fathers at Pregnant Women's Conferences in Central Ethiopia

Pregnant Women’s Conferences were held at Le-Zembara and Hodo health posts [Image descriptions: Midwives and Health Workers are speaking with a large group of women.]

Over the past year, our WEEMA midwives, with the support of government-supported midwives and front-line healthcare workers, have facilitated 10 Pregnant Women’s Conferences across 10 community health facilities. This year alone, 545 pregnant women and 17 husbands attended the conferences.

Conferences were held last September at Gaecha Waro Health Post

Discussion topics focused on empowering women and their families to make informed decisions through learning about women’s health, pregnancy, family and birth planning, and newborn care. These conferences have been instrumental in promoting the well-being of pregnant women and contributing to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the communities we serve.

The following topics were addressed at the conferences:

• Recognizing pregnancy danger signs and symptoms

• Breastfeeding education

• Discussion of harmful traditional practices

• Family planning

• Birth plan and preparedness

• Hygiene and infection prevention

• Newborn care, including hygiene, breastfeeding, newborn health issues, and the importance of early bonding and attachment.

• Encouraging women to give birth in healthcare facilities to ensure access to emergency obstetric care if needed and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

Midwives and health workers continue to speak with and encourage fathers to attend these conferences, and more fathers are attending to learn about ways they can support their wives through pregnancy, childbirth, and the early infancy of their newborn.