KENYA
History at AMRN
Kenya was an active participant of Africa Midwives Research Network (AMRN) activities from 1999. In 2002, Kenya was one of the countries included in the project through funding from SIDA for the period 2002 – 2007.

State of Maternal Care
(Mortality rates of babies and pregnant mothers)

• Total population: 40 million.
• Total number of women who attend antenatal care is over 80%
• Total number of women delivery in health facilities is 58%; this is according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS 2003)
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is 414/100,000 live births
• The leading direct causes of death are pregnancy induced hypertension, postpartum haemorrhage, puerperal sepsis and obstructed labour.

HIV Prevalence is as follows:

• 8/12 – 14 years – 0.9% (According to the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP)).
• 15-64 years – 5.6%.
• 6.2% in pregnant women.

Key Achievements
Training of Midwives in:

1. Research Methodology.
2. Communication Skills.
3. Information Technology Awareness.
4. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Awareness.

 UGANDA
History at AMRN
Uganda the African Midwives Network (AMRN) in 1998. Uganda’s active membership at AMRN was formerly launched during a Sida-supported training workshop on international evidence-based midwifery practice in Dar es Salaam in December 1998. The workshop brought together 23 participants from five other countries including Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eritrea.

Maternal and Child health Statistics
The total female fertility rate in Uganda has dropped on average from 6.9 children in 2001, to 6.2 children per woman in 2011. Twenty four percent of women age 15-19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. Life expectancy at birth is 53.45 for male while females are at 54.54 years with a population growth rate of 3.2% making the 5th highest in the world. However, the unmet need for family planning methods amongst married women has declined from 38 percent in 2006, down to 34 percent in 2011.

State of Maternal Care
(Mortality rates of babies and pregnant mothers)

• Total number of women delivery in health facilities is 59%
• Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is 438 per 100,000 live births in the year 2011.
• Total under-five Mortality Rate is 90 per 1,000 live births in the year 2011.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 54 per 1,000 live births in the year 2011.
• Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is 27 per 1,000 live births in the year 2011.

TANZANIA

History at AMRN
Tanzania is a founding member if the African Midwives Research Network. In 1992, Tanzania hosted the first Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation in Developing Countries (SAREC) sponsored Regional Reproductive Health Workshop where AMRN was born.

Since the founding of AMRN, Tanzania has remained and active member country. Three distinguished Tanzanian midwifery professionals including, Mrs Stella Mpanda, Prof. Helen Lugina, and Ms. Feddy Mwanga have held various leadership position in AMRN including that of Chairperson, Treasurer, and coordinator over the last decade.

The late Prof. Helen Lugina made notable contribution to the field of midwifery teaching and research and was at one time the Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. It is noteworthy that the new name of the network, Lugina African Midwives Research is in her honour.

Maternal and Child Health Statistics
(Mortality rates of babies and pregnant mothers)

• NMR 26/1000 live births.
• IMR 51/1000 live births.
• MMR 454/100,000 live births.
• HIV prevalence among pregnant women: 6.9% with vast regional variation.

Key Achievements:

• 178 Midwives joining the network.
• 120 Midwives mostly at the regional hospital exposed to updates on:

1. Communication Skills.
2. Information Technology.
3. Appreciative Inquiry Methods in Care.
4. Research Methodology.
5. Use of Evidence in Midwifery.

• AMRN Journal Clubs were initiated to share best practices and Operational Research.

 ZAMBIA
History at AMRN

Zambia is a founding member of AMRN and has been actively participating in the networks activities since 1992. Over the last two decades, Zambia has organised a number of key events for the network including a series of biennial conferences and training workshops. The training areas have covered, research, mentorship and professional development.

Zambia has also held leadership roles within the network. Mrs. Margaret Maimbolwa was at one time the vice Chairperson of AMRN.

Maternal and Child Health Statistics
(Mortality rates of babies and pregnant mothers)

• Total population 13, 000,000.
• Maternal mortality Ratio (MMR) 591/100,000 live births.Under – Five
• Mortality Rate 148 per 1000 live births.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) 92 per 1000 live births.
• Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) 34 per 1000 live births.
• Total under-five deaths 77 per 1000 live births.
• Adolescent birth rate 151 per 1000 women.

Key Achievements:

• Organised key events for the network including a series of Biennial Conferences and training workshops
• Trained Midwives on:

1. Research Methodology.
2. Mentorship
3. Professional Development

 
MALAWI
History at AMRN
Malawi is a new comer to LAMRN, and joined the network in April 2013. In August 2013, a successful launch of first LAMRN project was held at a function attended by key persons in health care including the Principal Secretary of Malawi’s Ministry of Health.

State of Maternal Care (Derived from the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey)
(Mortality rates of babies and pregnant mothers)

• Total population: estimated at 15 million
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is 675 per 100,000 live births
• Child Mortality Rate is 50 per 1,000 live births
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 66 per 1,000 live births
• Neonatal Mortality rate (NMR) is 31 per 1,000 live births
• Total Under-Five deaths is 127 per 1,000 live births

HIV Prevalence is as follows:

• Total: 10.6%
• Female: 12.9%
• Male: 8.1%

 ZIMBABWE
History at AMRN

Zimbabwe is one of the founder member countries of African Midwives Research Network (AMRN).

State of Maternal Care (Derived from the 2010 – 2011 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey)
(Mortality rates of babies and pregnant mothers)

• Total population: estimated at 15 million
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is 960 per 100,000 live births
• Leading direct cause of maternal deaths is pregnancy induces hypertension or eclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), puerperal sepsis, malaria and obstructed labour.
• Two-thirds of births are assisted by a skilled medical provider
• 13% of births are assisted by a traditional birth attendant
• 13% of births assisted by untrained relatives and friends
• 3% of births are unassisted
• Two-thirds of births occur in health facilities, primarily in public sector facilities
• Home births are three times more common in rural than in urban areas at 42% vs. 14%
• Total Fertility rate (TFR) is 4.1%
• Contraceptive Prevalence is 59%
• The unmet need for Family Planning is 13%

Key Achievements:

• Hosting the first AMRN Conference in 1997
• Hosting a number of regional research training workshops
• Trained Midwives on:

1. Research Process.
2. Evidence based Practice.
3. Communication Skills.
4. Information Technology.
5. Writing for Publications