The Process of Producing the Modified Ministry of Health (MOH) TBA Training Curriculum

Background: The MOH TBATraining Curriculum has been in Draft form since its documentation in 1996. This curriculum does not state when it was reviewed last or when it needs to be reviewed again in-order to incorporate new trends and concepts in infection prevention practices. The purpose of the modification is to facilitate task–shifting (a component of knowledge management) from the health professionals to non-professionals in the health care systems. Methods: We conducted a desk review, training needs assessment, focus group discussion and, analysing baseline data on maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates. Results: The Desk review showed non-uniform TBA training curricula being used, infection prevention omissions, inadequate integration of positive socio-cultural and traditional beliefs in the curriculum, training needs assessment showed poor knowledge and practice among existing TBAs, focus group discussions showed inadequate resource and support supervision of the TBAs while the baseline data showed high maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates in Chongwe District. Conclusion: Policy implications advocates that Low-income resource countries may need to formulate Primary Health Care (PHC) oriented Reproductive Health Policy that supports the training of TBAs through task-shifting anchored on evidence-based modified curriculum in the interim period until there are sufficient skilled birth attendants to service the hardest-to reach rural settings.