Dear colleagues,
At Central Hospital in Phnom Penh, we recently implemented a structured SOP for birth plan counselling at 32–34 weeks of gestation. The aim is to improve maternal safety, informed decision-making, and preparedness for both normal and emergency delivery.
In our setting, challenges included limited patient literacy, cultural preferences for family-led decision-making, and a lack of standard tools. Our approach involved:
- A checklist-based counselling format
- Integration of visual aids
- Signing delivery consent forms in advance
Early feedback from both midwives and patients has been positive, though challenges remain in ensuring consistent follow-through.
I would be interested to hear from other members — have you implemented a similar approach? How have you adapted birth preparedness counselling for low-literacy or rural populations?
Thank you!
HIFA profile: Suren Kanayan is the Administrative Manager at Central Hospital in Cambodia. Professional interests: Maternal and Child Health, Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinical Practice, Healthcare System Strengthening in LMICs, Telemedicine and Digital Health Platforms. Email: skan71 AT yahoo.com