Abstract
Abstract
Background
In recent years, extensive studies have been designed and performed in the context of providing midwifery care in developed countries, which has been unfortunately neglected in some low resources and upper middle-income countries such as Iran. This study was conducted to identify the best strategies for improving the quality of midwifery care and developing midwife-centered care in Iran.
Methods
This was a qualitative study using focus group discussion and content analysis method. Data were collected from 121 participants including midwifery board members, gynecologists, heads of midwifery departments, midwifery students, in charge midwives in hospitals, and midwives in the private sector. Focused-group discussions were used for data collection, and data were analyzed using content analysis method.
Results
The main themes extracted from the participants’ statements regarding improving the quality of midwifery care were as follows: Promotion and development of education, Manpower management, Rules, and regulations and standards for midwifery services, and Policy making.
Conclusion
This study showed that to improve midwifery care, health policy makers should take into account both the quality and quantity of midwifery education, and promote midwifery human resources through employment. Furthermore, insurance support, encouragement, supporting and motivating midwives, enhancing and improving the facilities, providing hospitals and maternity wards with cutting-edge equipment, promoting and reinforcing the position of midwives in the family doctor program, and using a referral system were the strategies proposed by participants for improving midwifery care. Finally, establishing an efficient and powerful monitoring system to control the practice of gynecologists and midwives, promoting the collaborative practice of midwives and gynecologists, and encouraging team-work with respect to midwifery care were other strategies to improve the midwifery services in Iran. Authorities and policymakers may set the stage for developing high quality and affordable midwifery care by relying on the strategies presented in this study.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Reference41 articles.
1. Cunningham F, Leveno K, Bloom S, Fauser J, Zwirner M. Williams obstetrics. New York: Graw-Hill.Day-Stirk; 2018.
2. World Health Organization. Maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. available at: https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/mothers/en/. Accessed date: 28 Aug 2020.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations to improve preconception health and health care—United States: A report of the CDC/ATSDR Preconception Care Work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception Care. MMWR. 2006;55(RR-06):1–23.
4. World Health Organization. Maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, The case for midwifery. https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/quality-of-care/midwifery/case-for-midwifery/en/. Accessed date: 25 June 2020.
5. World Health Organization. Maternal mortality. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality. Accessed date: 19 Sept 2020.