Qualitative research on the construction of professional system of midwives in China

Abstract

Objective To explore the construction of professional system of midwives in China so as to provide the reference for formulating the midwife system, normalizing the midwife professional qualification and duty and responsibility, and promote the midwife subject toward more standardization and reasonable direction in our country. Methods Forty-one professionals who were from eight provinces and cities, twenty-six different levels of general hospitals and maternal and child health hospitals including business deans, directors of obstetric, obstetric doctors, midwives and nurses were interviewed through semi-structured interview, and the construction of professional system of midwives was researched. Results Four themes were refined through in-depth interviews and analysis including the structure of personnel currently engaged in midwifery; the status of midwives’ duty and responsibility; the importance, necessity and contents of the construction of professional system of midwives; the contents of midwives’ professional qualification and duty and responsibility. Conclusions We should develop the midwife system as soon as possible, and strengthen the midwife training and education, and formulate the midwife access system and the corresponding laws and regulations, and standard midwife management, and clear the midwife qualifications and duties, and formulate midwife promotion system so as to realize the scientific management of midwife, and promote the development of midwife subject, and further promote mother and child health, and protect the mother and child safety in our country. Key words: Midwife; Construction of professional system; Professional qualification; Duty and responsibility; Qualitative research