An attitude survey of lay-midwives and nurse-midwives

Abstract

The increasing legalization of lay-midwifery and its growing practice raise many questions concerning nurse-midwives' involvement with lay-midwives and alternative birth settings. A mailed questionnaire study of a stratified sample of 100 nurse-midwife members of ACNM and 100 lay-midwives was conducted. The questionnaires assessed background in midwifery, characteristics of practice, and attitudes toward CNMs and LMWs by their opposites. The study was not intended as a comparative study of CNMs and LMWs. Instead its focus was primarily on the attitudes that each group expressed regarding members of the opposite group. The profile data revealed that the laymidwives were young in age and practice and concerned about education and standards of care. The nurse-midwives were older, had practiced longer, and supported alternatives in birth, but were not practicing them. There was no overwhelming positive or negative feeling between the two groups. Both agreed to a relationship on an educational level, but the nurse-midwives were uncertain about formal recognition of laymidwifery. There were few significant relationships between profile variables and attitudes. The study supplied meaningful data to prompt informed dialogue between nurse-midwives and lay-midwives.