Abstract
BackgroundIn 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.MethodsThis 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThis 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.
Highlights
In recent years, extensive studies have been designed and performed in the context of providing midwifery care in developed countries, which has been neglected in some low resources and upper middle-income countries such as Iran
In this study, 121 professionals participated all of whom had the experience of working in different fields of midwifery practice and were involved with the research topic
In the following the themes subthemes with some examples are enumerated: Promotion and development of education According to the participants’ views in different groups, the main concern of the participants was to improve the quality of midwifery care
Summary
Extensive studies have been designed and performed in the context of providing midwifery care in developed countries, which has been neglected in some low resources and upper middle-income countries such as Iran. Among the various groups involved in the health of the mother and baby, midwives have the highest chance to provide the best care for promoting maternal and their health [3]. On the other hand, due to the high-quality and free midwifery care, the shining role of midwives in maternity care and the better supervision of referral system have resulted in lower maternal mortality rate compared with developing and low-resources countries [6, 7]
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