The game that has been designed to save lives

Researchers at the University of Manchester have designed a board game aimed at helping African midwives prevent women dying in childbirth. The game is called Progression, and it was designed after a number of midwives struggled to complete essential checks needed to monitor vital signs during childbirth.

The partograph, a chart which records heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, is used to detect problems during labour. Many midwives, however, have struggled to use the chart. In developing countries, being unable to use the partograph to make decisions that could prevent death and illness is now a major problem.

Progression has been well received following a pilot scheme in east Africa, and it’s hoped it will help midwives to gain confidence when it comes to analysing data from the partograph.

Prof Dame Tina Lavender, who led the project, said:

“The crucial benefit of using this game is that it allows midwives to make mistakes without endangering lives.”

“The game is designed to provide new knowledge, revise what they already know and discuss with other players the best ways to support women. The feedback from midwives working in these countries during the pilot was overwhelmingly positive.”

photo credit: BBC news

See the BBC article here