Role of Community Midwife in Maternal Health Care System in Rural Areas of Pakistan

The present study was explored the role of community midwives (CMWs) in mother health care. The role of CMWs is to provide basic health care, to assist during and after pregnancy and childbirth. Generally, they are working on the basis of experience and knowledge obtained through practices in their communities. They work in remote, rural and far-flung areas of the country. They may be integrated in the formal health care system for making their in a befitting manner. They are working as a private health care practitioner and they play an instrumental role in enhancing mother health in rural areas. Maternal health is the health of the women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The CMWs are also known as skilled birth attendant, nurse or other health care professional who provides basic health care services in an emergency. The present study was conducted in rural areas of Faisalabad. The universe of the present study was CMWs health house in rural areas in district Faisalabad. A sample of 150 respondents was selected through purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through a well-designed questionnaire. Collected information was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results of this study reveals that majority of the respondents 97.3% know the importance of community midwife at community level. Majority of the respondents 92.0% have professional training from a certified institution. Most of the pregnant women consult their issues openly with midwife and 80.0% women act upon the directions given by them. Midwife is also playing an important role in the improvement of maternal and child health and majority of the respondents 62.0% said that death rate has been decreased due to midwives participation in primary health care system.