The study was conducted in 5 communes: Les Cayes, Aquin, St. Louis due Sud, Cavailllon, Maniche, and Ile a Vache. Eighty (80) women and 39 health care workers participated in the study. To collect the data 8 focus groups and 40 interviews were conducted. Observational data was collected visiting 20 health centers in the area to assess their needs. Health issues faced by women during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum phase include anemia, infection, hemorrhage and preeclampsia/eclampsia. Health issues that affect newborns include prematurity, low birth weight, infections, and tetanus. The main problem that the health care system confronts is the lack of trained professionals in maternal-child care specialty nurse-midwives.
