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The life of a midwife: A calling of humanity

The country’s high maternal mortality rate and much of the city population’s poor access to health services has compelled young people to consider midwifery as a profession despite its low income relative to other medical professions

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Wed, July 21, 2010

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The life of a midwife: A calling of humanity

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he country’s high maternal mortality rate and much of the city population’s poor access to health services has compelled young people to consider midwifery as a profession despite its low income relative to other medical professions.

“I want to contribute my skills to improve health services, especially for pregnant women, because the maternal mortality rate is still high. Midwives have massive responsibilities as they deal with two lives during labor,” said Thalita Sagrada, 18, a first-year midwifery student at a state health polytechnic in the city.  

Based on a 2007 health survey, the country’s current maternal mortality rate is 228 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Thalita considers midwives all-round figures. “Some people even seek out midwives to help with ailments like the flu,” she said.

“Becoming a midwife is really challenging as I have to master many skills and be professional despite insufficient supplies,” said Thalita.

There are 34 educational institutions in Greater Jakarta that provide midwifery training.

Fresh midwife graduates with a diploma or undergraduate degree usually work at community health centers as public servants, with a basic monthly salary of about Rp 1.5 million (US$165), while a midwife practicing at a private clinic might earn between Rp 500,000 and Rp 800,000 per labor. This is much less than a gynecologist, who can earn between Rp 5 million and Rp 8 million per labor.  

For Pronika Sitinjak, 21, becoming a midwife is a calling. “I love to help other people. Through my job, I want to support women through their labor,” she said.

The second-year student at the Pelita Persada Midwife Academy in West Jakarta, said she loved  to see mothers and their babies in good health after the process.

“It’s the part of the job that gives me the most satisfaction, it can’t be substituted by money,” she added.

She says she is willing to take her skills to remote parts of the country to help others. “It is my duty and part of the responsibility of my profession,” she said.     

Pronika said many women still depended on their husbands to make decisions about their pregnancies.

“I am concerned about this. I want to encourage women to take a greater role in planning their pregnancy, not just obeying their husbands,” she said.   

Syafrani Ibrahim, the deputy chief of education at the Jakarta office of the Indonesian Midwife Association (IBI), said that in the city, as well as in other parts of the country, midwives are expected to be primary health providers.

There are currently around 6,500 midwives in the city. According to the IBI, an ideal number should be one midwife for every 1,000 people, meaning the city faces a shortage of around 3,500 midwives.

Syafrani, who is also head of the Pelita Persada Midwife Academy, said that midwives require a high level of altruism and empathy.

“The first priority of the job is to help people, so a midwife should have a spirit to serve others,” she said. (lnd)

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