Training of midwives and raising awareness among the population in rural areas

The health situation in Niger is extremely precarious and the main health indicators reflect a worrying state of health of the population. Women and children are particularly affected, with, according to the latest available statistics, one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, as is the neonatal mortality rate.

This can be explained in particular by the poor quality of healthcare provision in Niger, inappropriate health and nutrition practices, particularly for mothers and children. In the department of Dogondouchi, where more than 70,000 people live, health structures are insufficient in quantity and qualityand many women have no choice but to give birth at home or to resort to midwives. The matrons enjoy the confidence of the population and especially of women but they have received most of the time no training when they are chosen to replace a midwife who has become too old. They have empirical knowledge of the act of childbirth, but are ignorant of the very foundations of pregnancy and childbirth. They are aware of social and religious acts and traditional care practices, mothering practices, but without biomedical training, they are unable to anticipate or manage obstetric complications. In terms of family planning, modern contraceptive methods, available in principle in health facilities, are still not widespread.

AECIN in partnership with RAEDD led since 2007 several training and equipment campaigns for midwives, of which a number were replaced by younger midwives who had received no trainingSince 2015, family planning facilitators have also been trained and are conducting awareness sessions in the villages of the four municipalities targeted by the project, but their presence is not sufficient.