Summary Developing countries are plagued by high maternal mortality rates, unwanted pregnancies, and family planning policies that aim to control population growth through sterilization and dangerous contraceptive drugs. In such difficult contexts, traditional midwives are important and effective agents of women's well-being and family planning policy. This essay will assess the community roles of professional versus traditional midwives in rural Asia, including a discussion of the lack of respect given to traditional midwives by doctors and clinical staff without recognizing the work that they accomplish with such limited resources. Analysis of the results of midwifery training programs will compare curricula from government-sponsored programs to outreach education provided by colleagues in the international community, showing that these professional midwives provide methods for integrating traditional midwives in professional circles (hospitals) as well as more realistic approaches. to midwives in indigenous communities in the face of the influx of Western biomedicine into government policy. Data will also be presented that suggests that maternal mortality rates are reduced through pre- and postpartum care provided by midwives, and that midwifery education and home visits help advance the status of women by increasing their capacity to regulate their fertility. Traditional midwivesThe international definition of midwife ratified by the World Health Organization (WHO) describes a person who has completed a duly recognized program of study and who is registered or legally authorized to practice midwifery in his country (WHO, 2000). This differs from most cultural definitions of a midwife. Most often, midwives are any woman experienced in childbirth and recognized as a midwife by her community. The WHO calls these women traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and considers them health care providers who fall outside the formal skilled birth attendant sector. However, these women are experienced in maternal care and offer their expertise to their clients. They are also accepted by their communities as competent midwives and are generally more trusted than professionals. Professional midwives in Northern countries receive eight or more years of training. Their practice is generally classified as an alternative form of healthcare. In fact, middle of paper......men's Enews, September 25, 2003. Retrieved February 7, 2005 from http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1539/cintext/archiveMaine, D., Murat, ZA, Chakraborty, J., Francisco, A. de and Strong, M. (1996). Why have maternal mortality rates decreased in Matlab? Family Planning Studies, 27(4), 179-187.Mcrory, F. (1995). HIV testing and pregnancy. [Electronic version]. Midwifery Matters, 67, 10-13. Nasir, K. and Hyder, A.A. (2003). Violence against pregnant women in developing countries. European Journal of Public Health, 13 (2), 105-107. Phillips, JF and Hossain, MB (2003). The impact of household provision of family planning services on the status of women in Bangladesh. International Perspectives on Family Planning, 29(3), 138-145.Rogers, EM & Solomon, DS (1975). Traditional midwives and family planning in Asia. Studies in Family Planning, 6(5), 126-133. UNICEF press release. (2004). United Nations working group meets.