Finding the causes of health problems
4. Decide the most likely cause.
Celeste could not do a blood test to be sure, because there was no
laboratory nearby, but all the other signs showed that Elena probably
had anemia.
5. Make a plan for what to do.
Celeste explained to Elena that anemia can cause tiredness and make it
hard for a woman to recover after a birth — especially if the woman
bleeds heavily. She told Elena that anemia means not enough iron in the
blood and that it can usually be cured by eating foods rich in iron and
protein or by taking iron pills.
If you cannot afford
to buy red meat, there
are cheaper foods that
are rich in iron. Try
liver, eggs, yams, and
leafy green vegetables.
6. Look for results.
When Elena came back for her next check up, Celeste checked for signs of
anemia. After improving her diet, Elena seemed be getting better. If Elena
had not gotten better, Celeste would have recommended that Elena take
iron and folate pills.
These 6 steps will help you solve most health problems.
Note: To “start with a doubt” is very difficult for most health workers.
Many health workers are afraid to admit when they do not know an
answer. But to accurately assess a problem, and to treat it
appropriately, we must admit what we do not know.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
15