According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this kind of large -scale is life -saving possible, if Midwifery care is universally available and is in line with international standards.
“Expansion and investment in midwifery models of care is one of the most effective strategies to improve maternal and newborn health globally“Said Dr. Anshu Banerjee, director of mothers, children and youth health and aging of whom.
In a recently released report that outlines how the individual countries with the support of the international community can mobilize relevant stakeholders and institute policies that support midwives.
Midwifery models of care
Midwives around the world work diligently to provide a continuum of care for women, including care about sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
When emphasizing personalized and culturally conscious approaches, midwifery is especially useful for reducing access barriers to women in rural or conflict -affected regions where hospitals may not be available.
“Skilled midwives help women trust their bodies, their abilities and their care … to ensure that women are consistently part of the decision -making and have access to the information they need,” said Ulrika Rehnstrom Loi, a midwife expert at WHO.
The WHO report emphasized that midwifery models of care are especially important as the concerns of over-medicine in birth are becoming more pronounced.
“In a world where birth becomes more and more medical, medical, [midwives] Offer a person -centered evidence -based approach to it Respects the physiological birth process, restores dignity and autonomy to maternity care“Said Anna UgGlas, CEO of the International Confederation of Midwives.
Implementation of a global imperative
Currently, the world is facing a global lack of about a million midwives. Concentrated and cross -sectoral action is needed to turn this deficiency.
“Midwifery models of care are not only smart solutions – they are a necessity,” said Ms. UgGlas.
The WHO report outlined that increased the number of midwives around the world requires political actions across many sectors, including health and education, in addition to advocating campaigns.
In Morocco, the Association of Midwives conducted an awareness campaign that distributed flyers and cultivated partnerships with women and civil society organizations.
This campaign eventually led to legislation in 2016, which defined what midwifery was, the first of its kind in Morocco.
Just as the Moroccan example indicates, the report said that decision making, advocating and implementation everyone should happen at the same time and that each country must use an approach specific to their context.
“[Midwifery] Approaches improve the results, maximize resources and can be adapted to all countries, ”said Dr. Banerjee.
Case study in rural areas
A West Bank campaign led by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the Palestinian Committee for Norway and the Palestinian Ministry of Health worked to tackle the challenges facing women in rural areas when accessing care.
Through coordination with hospitals and members of the community, the campaign expanded midwife services to six regional hospitals and 37 villages between 2013 and 2016. This led to a 20 percent decrease in non -planned cesarean section and a 21 percent decrease in early birth rates.
And this was just the short -term effects, but Mr. Banerjee said that extended midwifery access can also have long -term effects.
“[Midwifery models of care] Also improve women’s and families’ experiences of care – build trusted partnerships for health at this critical life phase. ”
