The Midwifery Services Framework: The process of implementation

Andrea Nove,Nester T Moyo,Martha Bokosi,Shantanu Garg

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.013

Andrea Nove, Nester T Moyo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.013

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Abstract

In 2015, the International Confederation of Midwives launched the Midwifery Services Framework: a new evidence-based tool to guide countries through the process of improving their sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services through strengthening and developing the midwifery workforce. The Midwifery Services Framework is aligned with key global architecture for sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health and human resources for health, and with the recommendations of the 2014 Lancet Series on Midwifery. This second in a series of three papers describes the process of implementing the Midwifery Services Framework: the preparatory work, what happens at each stage of implementation and who should be involved at each stage. It gives an idea of the scale of the task, and the resources that will be required to implement the Midwifery Services Framework in a given country context. The paper will be of interest to health policy-makers, development partners and professional associations in countries considering different approaches to strengthening their sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services, and it will help them to decide whether and when either full or partial/staged implementation of the Midwifery Services Framework will be an appropriate initiative to address identified deficits in their specific context, given the current and projected availability of resources.

Highlights

In March 2015, the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) launched the Midwifery Services Framework (MSF), and since implementation of the MSF has begun in eight countries
The development of the MSF was led by ICM in collaboration with partner organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Implementation phase (iii): Country assessment workshop. This three-day workshop includes a number of presentations and structured activities facilitated by ICM and other partners, with a view to reaching consensus on key issues, including: (1) definition of the package of care that women and families should receive, and which elements of this package should be delivered by midwives, (2) how the SRMNH system should be organised to deliver effective coverage of midwifery care, (3) what challenges the country faces in terms of the SRMNH workforce and working environment, (4) the priority order in which challenges should be addressed, and (5) which organisations and individuals should be charged with responsibility for addressing the challenges and for M & E of the MSF process

Summary

Introduction

In March 2015, the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) launched the Midwifery Services Framework (MSF), and since implementation of the MSF has begun in eight countries. Preparations are made for the workshop, during which the agenda, participant list and logistical arrangements (e.g. venue) are agreed This three-day workshop includes a number of presentations and structured activities facilitated by ICM and other partners, with a view to reaching consensus on key issues, including: (1) definition of the package of care that women and families should receive, and which elements of this package should be delivered by midwives, (2) how the SRMNH system should be organised to deliver effective coverage of midwifery care, (3) what challenges the country faces in terms of the SRMNH workforce and working environment, (4) the priority order in which challenges should be addressed, and (5) which organisations and individuals should be charged with responsibility for addressing the challenges and for M & E of the MSF process. Effective engagement with policy-making and persistent advocacy efforts from the MA will be needed to keep the MSF high on political, funder and health system agendas for as long as necessary to achieve its objectives

Funding the MSF

Conclusion