Montevideo, December 21, 2022. Obstetrician gynecologist, Pamela Saravia, is one of the 62 people graduated as trainers in Immediate Post Obstetric Event Contraception (AIPEO) techniques by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This training not only provides her with tools for clinical practice with users, but also enables her to be a tutor for the practical implementation of the PAHO course with simulation in medium and low performance models.
Saravia, who is Bolivian and currently works at the San Juan de Dios Hospital, Oruro Corea, commented that her interest in the subject increased after a period in Mexico, where she was able to do an internship in family planning. "I found it very interesting that they practiced AIPEO there. That was something that was not done in my country, mainly because there were many taboos on the part of the doctors. Many gynecologists think that women are going to expel at the moment of the contractions in the uterus. However, being there I could see that there is a minimum percentage of women who eliminate it and, on the other hand, it has many advantages"... "There they did counseling during the prenatal checkup, during hospitalization and before discharge. This meant that in the institute where I was, almost 90 % of the patients left with a contraceptive method".
In mid-2019 Saravia returned to her country with the intention of reproducing this practice in her hospital. The course developed by PAHO's Latin American Center for Perinatology - Women's and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR) presented itself as an opportunity. "PAHO's training helped me to be able to support what I wanted to do, which is something that is really being used and that really helps". The professional expressed that for countries that have "low education in family planning, this type of training is very important".
Among the aspects to be highlighted, Saravia mentioned the advantages of being a virtual course "that can be done whenever and wherever you want" and the practical tools. "I found the demonstration videos and the primers with checklists very useful so that you can confirm that you have everything you need to do the procedure," she said.
The specialist, commented that she feels gratified because "before 2019 we had nothing and now we have already placed IUDs in cesarean sections and deliveries. Although the numbers are not yet what I would like them to be, the first steps have been taken and this will continue. She also said that the hospital is a trainer of residents and interns, which allows it to provide training on the subject. "They see that it is not complicated at all and that it has many advantages. I always encourage them to take the OPS course and get the certification".
For Saravia, training is essential to advance the practice of AIPEO. "We know the advantages. It decreases the rate of unplanned pregnancies and helps decrease maternal mortality. This is extremely important for countries in the region, where we know that the maternal mortality rate is still high. It is important to be trained to reduce both obstetric and social complications," she concluded.
Access the virtual campus where you can access the AIPEO course and others generated by CLAP/WR.
