Improving the quality of prenatal care in polyclinics based on WHO recommendations

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The first training for trainers on "Antenatal care based on scientific evidence" was completed in Tashkent on 24 May. It was held on the basis of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The peculiarity of the training is its focus on primary care professionals, that is, polyclinics, outpatient clinics.

Within 9 days, doctors received theoretical knowledge and then honed their own teaching skills for another 4 days.

Further, certified specialists themselves as trainers will be involved in conducting training courses in their region.

The project, which is supported by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and UNFPA, is designed for 1.5 years.

If earlier the Centers of Republican significance did little to improve the skills of primary care specialists, today this situation is changing dramatically. Relevant resolutions and decrees of the President, adopted recently, aim at this.

The participants of the first training for trainers (TOT) were 37 family doctors and obstetrician-gynecologists from all regions of the republic, who provide prenatal care while working in the polyclinic service.

It is planned that trained trainers will be able to train about 40,000 medical workers of the primary health care service within 2.5 years.

In this regard, the Republican Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology is planning further trainings to train trainers in this direction.

Future trainers receive knowledge and skills in antenatal care (antenatal care) based on scientific evidence in accordance with the latest WHO recommendations. This is a whole range of medical services that a pregnant woman receives from an organized medical care system.

Competent antenatal care should prevent and timely identify conditions that may threaten the health of the fetus, newborn or mother. It also aims to help a woman develop a positive attitude towards pregnancy and childbirth.

The tasks of doctors providing prenatal care include education and training of pregnant women, as well as those who provide them with care.

It is important for professionals to understand that any new elements and schemes of antenatal care should be introduced only on the basis of scientific evaluation. It is impossible to apply those procedures and actions, to give recommendations, the benefits of which have not been proven.

Studies show that good, evidence-based prenatal care can prevent health problems for both mother and child.