Midwifery seen to save lives of millions of women, newborns

MANILA, Philippines - Midwifery can save the lives of millions of women and newborns, according to a report of various international organizations.

The “State of the World’s Midwifery 2014: A Universal Pathway – A Woman’s Right to Health” showed the services of a midwifery workforce are “most desperately needed” in 73 countries.

These 73 African, Asian and Latin American countries suffer 96 percent of the global burden of maternal deaths, 91 percent of stillbirths and 93 percent of newborn deaths.

They have only 42 percent of the world’s midwives, nurses and doctors.

The United Nations Population Fund, International Confederation of Midwives, World Health Organization and other partners released the report earlier this week.

Flavia Bustreo, WHO assistant director-general for family, women’s and children’s health, said the world’s health ministers adopted the report during the recently concluded World Health Assembly in Geneva, along with the “Every Newborn Action Plan.”

“Both aim to encourage governments to allocate adequate resources for maternal and newborn health services within national health sector plans,” she said.

The report urges countries to invest in midwifery education and training to contribute to closing the glaring gaps that exist.

“Investments in midwifery education and training at agreed international standards can yield – as a study from Bangladesh shows – a 1,600 percent return on investment,” the report said.

Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA executive director, said midwives make enormous contributions to the health of mothers and newborns and the well-being of entire communities.

“Access to quality health care is a basic human right,” Osotimehin said. “Greater investment in midwifery is key to making this right a reality for women everywhere.” 

When educated to international standards and within a fully functional health system, midwives can provide about 90 percent of the essential care to women and newborns and can potentially reduce maternal and newborn deaths by two thirds, the report said.

The report said maternal and newborn deaths in the 73 countries are on a steady decline by three percent and 1.9 percent yearly since 1990.

However, these countries need to do more to address the severe shortage of midwifery care, the report added.