Empowered midwives for universal health coverage of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services in DRC

AbstractThis research collaboration aims at setting up a network of Swedish and Congolese (DRC) academic institutions and researchers that would contribute to comprehending, assessing and streamlining midwifery’s role in bringing about a structured health system architecture that allows women and girls access to equitable, socially valued and rights-based sexual and reproductive health services in the DRC, as a result of implementation of the national strategy for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.Midwives and midwifery profession are critical resources in advancing comprehensive SRHR in any system.

Unfortunately, their position in the DRC is still very weak, unregulated, and not supported. Their workplaces are poorly equipped, and their training institutions reflect substandard quality.

This research network will identify, explore and analyze important topics that need to be dealt with in order to nurture, promote and ensure sustainable midwifery profession is available.Women and girls bear the burden of ill health in the country: contraceptive prevalence at 18%, maternal mortality at 846 deaths per 100 000 live births, adolescent pregnancy over 30% etc.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) abounds, as does unsafe abortion.This collaboration will empower a valuable professional body whose contribution to integrated SRHR will improve health, save lives and promote rights for millions of women and girls in the DRC.