Women's Health Empowerment through Midwifery Training
Keywords:
midwifery training, women's empowerment, maternal health, Laos PDRAbstract
This study examines the impact of midwifery training programs on women's health empowerment in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), focusing on maternal health outcomes, professional development, and healthcare system strengthening. The research employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the effectiveness of midwifery education initiatives implemented between 2020-2024. Results demonstrate that enhanced midwifery training significantly improves maternal and neonatal health outcomes, with maternal mortality rates declining by 35% in areas with trained midwives. Professional empowerment outcomes show increased job satisfaction, clinical competency, and leadership roles among trained midwives. The study reveals that comprehensive midwifery education programs contribute to healthcare system strengthening through improved service delivery, enhanced community trust, and reduced referral rates. Policy implications suggest that sustained investment in midwifery education and supportive regulatory frameworks are essential for achieving universal health coverage and women's empowerment goals. These findings underscore the critical role of midwifery training in addressing health inequities and promoting sustainable development in low-resource settings.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Joanne Mitchell, Mia Jensen, Sophal Chenda (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
