Early registration now open for FIGO XXIII
Join ICI at the virtual FIGO Congress on October 3rd (Precongress Workshop) and Oct 21-28, 2021. Early registration is open now until September 8th. ICI will hold its first full-day interactive workshop during the Precongress, featuring guest speakers from the International Confederation of Midwives and the White Ribbon Alliance. More speakers from ICI will be…
Moi University Kenya offers training on the ICI 12 Steps
In October 2020, Moi University offered a three day training on the 12 Steps of ICI for the maternity staff of six local health centers. The training was based on an original curriculum that they developed with support from UNFPA Kenya and NEPAD Kenya. ICI is grateful for the enthusiastic response and initiative shown by…
Joining ICI Webinar presented to FIGO on Feb 3, 2021
On Feb 3, 2021 as part of FIGO’s (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) current webinar series addressing various global women’s health issues, ICI presented a webinar that delves into the background and building blocks of the International Childbirth Initiative. The webinar highlights the levels of engagement possible for health care professional associations, educators, advocacy…
Spinning Babies features ICI sites in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United States
We were grateful to Spinning Babies for inviting Jennie Joseph, Vicki Penwell, Robin Lim, and our ICI Co-Chair Debra Pascali-Bonaro, to participate in the Spinning Babies 2020 Confluence on behalf of their participating ICI sites. Now that the conference has ended, the recording of the panel is available. To watch more from the ICI, please…
Dr Carlos Fuchtner, FIGO President makes commitment to implementing International Childbirth Initiative
The delegates of FIGO World Congress in Rio de Janiero this week enjoyed an impressive beginning to the Presidency of Dr Carlos Fuchtner of Bolivia. Maternal mortality was a major theme of his opening address when he highlighted the fact that 52% of maternal deaths are attributable to the three leading, and entirely preventable, causes…
FIGO Statement: The International Childbirth Initiative: 12 steps to safe and respectful MotherBaby–Family maternity care
The International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization (IMBCO) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) joined forces, developing a single global initiative to provide guidance and support for safe and respectful maternity care. This work built upon their previous initiatives—the IMBCO ‘10 Steps to Optimal MotherBaby Maternity Services’1 and the FIGO ‘Guidelines to MotherBaby Friendly…
The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States
Recently WHO researchers described seven dimensions of mistreatment in maternity care that have adverse impacts on quality and safety. Applying the WHO framework for quality care, service users partnered with NGOs, clinicians, and researchers, to design and conduct the Giving Voice to Mothers (GVtM)–US study. This is the first study to use indicators developed by service…
Maternity services: women want respect and dignity above all else, finds global survey
A survey of 1.2 million women from more than half (114) of the world’s countries has found that the thing they most wanted from reproductive and maternal health services was to be treated with respect and dignity.1 After that requirement, the women, who were asked an open ended question about their health needs, said that…
Launching the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI)
A new initiative launched by the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI) at the XXII FIGO World Congress in Brazil provides comprehensive guidance and support for safe and respectful maternal care globally. Endorsed by a growing number of health professionals, advocacy groups and educational institutions around the world, ‘12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care’ is a clear and…