Overcoming Barriers to Safe Maternity Care in Afghanistan

by Annie Clark, CNM, MPHThe majority of women in Afghanistan are constricted by traditional customs forbidding them to travel without a male companion.Last month, NPR’s Morning Edition posted a story about midwifery in Afghanistan with Renee Montagne reporting from the remote region of Badakshan along Afghanistan’s northern border. The story provides a snapshot of the situation in Afghanistan

An International Approach to Mainstreaming Midwifery in America

by Peter Johnson, CNM, PhD, FACNMAs we celebrate Midwifery Week—a time to recognize our profession and celebrate our achievements—I am struck by the good work midwives are accomplishing globally. National Public Radio aired a story last week that highlighted the work of my organization, Jhpiego, that is taking place in the far northern region of Afghanistan. While listening to Renee Montagne’s

Get Ready to Party Like a Midwife

by Melissa Garvey, ACNM Writer and EditorIf you love your profession or your midwife, 24-hours worth of opportunities to celebrate are coming up. Wednesday, May 5, is International Day of the Midwife—a fabulous opportunity to celebrate midwifery and raise awareness of the importance of their work. Thanks to innovators like midwife Sarah Stewart, midwives and their supporters around the world are

WRA Reminds G8 to Pay Attention to Moms

As world leaders come together at the G8 meetings in Italy this week, the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) has launched a new video and an Atlas of Birth to draw attention to the problem of maternal death during childbirth.According to WRA, maternal death is the greatest health inequity of the 21st century. Every minute, a woman dies while giving birth. In fact, more women die in the developing world