22-9
In Indonesia, a birth report form using pictures was developed for midwives who
cannot read. The form was later adapted for use in Egypt, with the help of a group
of traditional midwives. Here are some of the changes they suggested.
The Egyptian midwives found these drawings
on the Indonesian form too abstract.
They said it would be better to draw the
whole baby, with an earring for the girl
(since all baby girls in Egypt are given earrings).
They thought this
Indonesian drawing of a
dead baby looked more
like a sweet wrapped in
paper.
They suggested that the
dead baby be shown
wrapped like a mummy,
as is often done in Egypt.
And Ihey suggested changing
the red cross on the ambulance
to the red crescent used
on Egyptian ambulances.
The revised Egyptian form is shown below. Read it from right to left.
start
here
Reporting form for traditional birth attendants in Egypt,
adapted from an Indonesian form with the help of local midwives.
(Taken from Salubritas, American Public Health Association, July, 1980.)