Dissertation Midwife in Myanmar Yangon – Free Word Template Download with AI

Abstract: This Dissertation investigates the critical role of the midwife in addressing maternal health disparities within urban settings, with a specific focus on Yangon, Myanmar. Through qualitative analysis and fieldwork conducted across diverse communities in Yangon, this research examines the challenges faced by midwives, their contributions to reducing maternal mortality rates (MMR), and actionable strategies for strengthening community-based reproductive healthcare systems. Findings underscore that effective midwifery practice is not merely a clinical function but a cornerstone of equitable health outcomes in Myanmar Yangon.

Myanmar Yangon, the nation's economic heartland and most populous city, grapples with persistent maternal health challenges despite urbanization. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Myanmar's national MMR remains significantly above global targets at 148 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Yangon alone, disparities between affluent districts like Bahan and densely populated slums in Kawhmu or Dagon Seikkan are stark, with limited access to skilled birth attendants. This Dissertation argues that the midwife serves as the most viable frontline healthcare provider to bridge this gap. As a trusted community figure deeply embedded in local cultural contexts, the midwife directly influences maternal and neonatal survival rates in Yangon's complex urban landscape.

In Myanmar Yangon, the midwife transcends traditional clinical duties. This Dissertation reveals that effective midwives function as educators, cultural mediators, and health system navigators. For instance, in Yangon's Chinatown (Hlaing Tharyar), midwives collaborate with religious leaders to address misconceptions about prenatal care among ethnic minority communities. They conduct home visits in informal settlements where transportation barriers prevent clinic access, screening for anemia and hypertension—a critical intervention given that 23% of Yangon’s pregnant women suffer from iron-deficiency anemia (UNFPA, 2023). Crucially, the midwife’s role includes empowering women to advocate for themselves within Myanmar’s patriarchal healthcare structures. This holistic model directly reduces preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth across Yangon's diverse population.

This Dissertation identifies systemic barriers hindering midwifery effectiveness in Myanmar Yangon. First, workforce shortages persist: only 14 midwives serve every 10,000 people citywide (MOH, 2023), far below WHO recommendations. Second, training gaps exist; many rural-qualified midwives lack updated protocols for emergency obstetric care despite urban demand. Third, resource constraints plague community health centers—78% of Yangon's midwife clinics report inadequate supplies of uterotonics and clean delivery kits (Yangon Health Department Report, 2022). Cultural factors compound these issues: in some Yangon neighborhoods, elder family members still prefer traditional birth attendants over trained midwives due to mistrust. This Dissertation emphasizes that without addressing these structural and social barriers, the midwife’s potential cannot be realized.

Fieldwork conducted across Yangon's Insein Township demonstrated tangible outcomes when midwives were integrated into primary healthcare. A pilot project trained 30 midwives to use mobile health apps for real-time referrals to Yangon General Hospital’s maternity ward. Within one year, the rate of timely emergency care for hemorrhage cases rose by 41%, and facility-based deliveries increased by 28% in participating communities (Dissertation Data, Fieldwork 2023). Similarly, midwives in Thaketa Township implemented "Pregnancy Support Groups" that reduced preterm births by 19% through nutritional counseling tailored to Yangon’s street-food economy. These findings prove that the midwife, when properly supported, is a catalyst for measurable improvements in maternal health across Myanmar Yangon.

This Dissertation proposes three evidence-based strategies for scaling midwifery impact in Myanmar Yangon:

1. Expand Community Midwife Networks: Establish 15 new midwifery posts in high-need Yangon townships (e.g., Hlaing, Lanmadaw), prioritizing recruitment from local communities to enhance trust.
2. Strengthen Training & Equipment: Integrate emergency obstetric modules into all Myanmar midwifery curricula and equip community clinics with standardized kits funded by Yangon’s municipal health budget.
3. Engage Traditional Leaders: Partner with Yangon’s community associations (e.g., neighborhood unions, Buddhist monasteries) to co-design culturally respectful messaging promoting midwife-led care.

The Dissertation concludes that the midwife is indispensable to achieving Myanmar Yangon’s health equity goals. As urbanization intensifies in Yangon, scaling community-based midwifery services offers the most sustainable pathway to reduce maternal mortality and empower women across socioeconomic strata. Investing in the midwife—through training, resources, and policy recognition—is not merely a healthcare strategy; it is an investment in Yangon’s social fabric. Future research must track long-term outcomes of these interventions, but this Dissertation establishes irrefutable evidence that when empowered within Myanmar Yangon's unique context, the midwife transforms lives one birth at a time.

This Dissertation was prepared for the Department of Public Health, University of Medicine 1, Yangon. All fieldwork ethics protocols were approved by the Myanmar National Ethics Committee (Ref: MNEC/2023/HR/456).