Care Midwives Research Articles

Community midwives' perspectives on perinatal care for asylum seekers and refugees in the Netherlands: A survey study.

The rise of forced migration worldwide compels birth care systems and professionals to respond to the needs of women giving birth in these vulnerable situations. However, little is known about the perspective of midwifery professionals on providing perinatal care for forcibly displaced women. This study aimed to identify challenges and target areas for improvement of community midwifery care for asylum seekers (AS) and refugees with a residence permit (RRP) in the Netherlands. For this cross-sectional study, data were collected through a survey aimed at community care midwives who currently work or who have worked with AS and RRP. We evaluated challenges identified through an inductive thematic analysis of respondents' responses to open-ended questions. Quantitative data from close-ended questions were analyzed descriptively and included aspects related to the quality and organization of perinatal care for these groups. Respondents generally considered care for AS and RRP to be of lower quality, or at best, equal quality compared to care for the Dutch population, while the workload for midwives caring for these groups was considered higher. The challenges identified were categorized into five main themes, including: 1) interdisciplinary collaboration; 2) communication with clients; 3) continuity of care; 4) psychosocial care; and 5) vulnerabilities among AS and RRP. Findings suggest that there is considerable opportunity for improvement in perinatal care for AS and RRP, while also providing direction for future research and interventions. Several concerns raised, especially the availability of professional interpreters and relocations of AS during pregnancy, require urgent consideration at legislative, policy, and practice levels.

Antenatal cardiotocography in primary midwife-led care: Women's satisfaction.

In the Netherlands, antenatal cardiotocography (aCTG), used to assess fetal well-being, is performed in obstetrician-led care. To improve continuity of care, an innovation project was designed wherein primary care midwives perform aCTGs for specific indications. The aim of this study was to examine the satisfaction and experiences of pregnant women who received an aCTG in primary midwife-led care and explore which factors were associated with high satisfaction. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire based on the Consumer Quality Index. The primary outcome was general satisfaction on a 10-point scale, with a score above nine indicating participants were "highly satisfied". In total, 1227 women were included in the analysis. The study showed a mean general satisfaction score of 9.2. Most women were highly satisfied with receiving an aCTG in primary midwife-led care (77.4%). On the Consumer Quality Index, the mean satisfaction level varied from 3.98 (SD ± 0.11) for the subscale "client satisfaction" to 3.87 (SD ± 0.32) for the subscale "information provision" on a 4-point scale. Women at between 33 and 36 weeks' gestation were more likely to be highly satisfied (adjusted OR [aOR] = 3.35). Compared with a completely comfortable position during the aCTG, a mostly comfortable or somewhat comfortable level had decreased odds of being associated with a ranking of highly satisfied (aOR 0.24 and 0.19, respectively). This study shows that pregnant women are satisfied with having an aCTG in midwife-led care. Providing aCTG in midwife-led care can increase access to continuity of care.

Type of deliveries supported by Dutch clinical midwives

ObjectiveThe number of clinical midwives in the Netherlands has substantially increased over the last twenty years, but their role in obstetric care is not clearly defined. Our aim was to identify the type of deliveries that are usually supported by clinical midwives and whether these changed over time. Design, setting, and participantsNational data from the Netherlands Perinatal Registry from the years 2000 to 2016 (n = 2.999.411 deliveries) were used to divide all deliveries into classes using latent class analyses based on delivery characteristics. In the primary analyses, the identified classes, type of hospital, and year of cohort were used to predict deliveries supported by a clinical midwife. In secondary analyses, the same analyses were repeated where the classes were replaced by individual level characteristics of deliveries and stratified by referral during birth. Measurements and findingsThe latent class analyses identified three classes: I. referral during birth; II. Induction of labour; and III. Planned caesarian section. The primary analyses indicated that women in both class I and II were frequently supported by clinical midwives and those in the third class almost never. Therefore, only data from deliveries assigned to class I and II were used in the secondary analyses. The secondary analyses showed that clinical midwives supported deliveries with a great variety in characteristics, such as pain relief and preterm birth. Although the frequency of clinical midwives being involved in the second stage of labour increased over the years, we did not find noticeable changes in their involvement. Key conclusion and implications for practiceClinical midwives care for women with various types of deliveries with varying degrees of pathology and complexity during second stage of labour. Additional training, taking previously acquired skills and competences into account, is necessary to deal with this complexity for which clinical midwives are not always trained.

Assessment of interprofessional obstetric and midwifery care from the midwives' perspective using the Interprofessional Collaboration Scale (ICS).

Interprofessional collaboration of physicians and midwives is essential for appropriate and safe care of pregnant and parturient women as well as their newborns. The complexity of woman-centered care settings requires the continuous exchange of information and the coordinated implementation of multi-and interprofessional care concepts. To analyze the midwives' perspective on the multi-and interprofessional care process during pregnancy, birth and postpartum period, we aimed to adapt and psychometrically evaluate the Interprofessional Collaboration Scale (ICS). The ICS (13 items) was answered by 299 midwives for (i) prenatal and postpartum care as well as (ii) perinatal care. Three items on equitable communication (EC) identified in qualitative interviews with N = 6 midwives were added as further aspects of quality in collaborative midwifery care. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test competing theoretically hypothesized factorial model structures, including both care settings simultaneously, i.e., birth and prenatal/postpartum. A two-dimensional structure assuming the 13 original ICS items and the 3 items on EC as psychometric distinct item groups accounts for the data best. After deleting 5 ICS items with insufficient indicator reliability, a very good-fitting model structure was obtained for both prenatal/postpartum as well as perinatal care: χ2df = 192 = 226.35, p = 0.045, CFI = 0.991, RMSEA = 0.025 (90%CI: [0.004; 0.037]). Both the reduced ICS-R and the EC scale (standardized response mean = 0.579/1.401) indicate significantly higher interprofessional collaboration in the birth setting. Responsibility in consulting, attitudes toward obstetric care and frequency of collaboration with other professional groups proved to be associated with the ICS-R and EC scale as expected. For the adapted ICS-R and the EC scale a good construct validity could be confirmed. Thus, the scales can be recommended as a promising assessment for recording the collaboration of midwives with physicians working in obstetric care from the perspective of midwives. The instrument provides a validated assessment basis in midwifery and obstetric care to identify potentially divergent perspectives within interprofessional care teams in woman's centered care.

Attitudes of health professionals towards violence and their tendency to report spousal violence.

The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of primary care providers, physicians, nurses and midwives towards domestic violence and their tendencies to report violence against women and the affecting factors. The population of this study was 294 health professionals. The mean score on the Domestic Violence was 19.23±4.28 and on the Scale of Health Professionals' Intentions/Behaviors Regarding Reporting Intimate Partner Violence was 124.24±20.41. While the health professionals' attitudes towards domestic violence were more negative in our study, attitudes towards reporting violence against women were more positive. Also, health professionals faced ethical problems related to the principles of privacy and confidentiality.

Investigation of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors of High School Students Studying in the Field of Health Services

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the healthy lifestyle behaviors of Vocational
 and Technical Anatolian high school (VTAHS) health services students.
 Method: The research is of descriptive type and was conducted in all seven
 schools of a province with health services in VTAHS. The sample consisted of 681
 students attending the 11th grade in the departments of assistant nurse, assistant
 midwife and health care technician. Data were collected with a personal information
 form and Adolescent Lifestyle Profile (ALP) scale. T-Test in Independent
 Groups, Mann-Whitney U Test, One-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis were used in
 the analysis of the data. Bonferroni was used in the post hoc analysis.
 Results: The mean age of the students participating in the study was 16.73±
 0.52, 74.6% were female, body mass index (BMI) of 67.3% of them was normal.
 While the lowest mean score was observed in the subgroup of health responsibility
 (2.10±0.48), the highest mean score (3.14±0.51) was observed in the interpersonal
 relations subgroup. Being a woman, living in a town, having a broken family member,
 studying in the midwife assistant department, not staying with the family, not
 working, having bad family or friend relations, having a diagnosis of illness, having
 a bad perception of health status, not having a normal weight BMI was at a disadvantage
 in terms of ALP scale scores.
 Conclusions and Suggestions: Gender, place he/she lives, family type, department,
 place he/she stays, working a job outside of school, family relations, friend
 relations, disease diagnosis, current state of health and BMI of students were found
 to be effective in ALP scale scores. These students, who are on the way to become
 the health personnel of the future, should be made aware of healthy lifestyle behaviors
 and interventional studies should be carried out to develop these behaviors.

Comprehensive Midwife Care For Mrs "T" With Normal Pregnancy In Ujung Loe Public Health Center, Ujung Loe District, Bulukumba Regency

Many factors influence and can be the cause of AKI and IMR, so it is necessary to make more effective efforts than before, namely by conducting continuous midwifery care so that complications starting during pregnancy can be detected as early as possible and given appropriate treatment. This comprehensive midwifery care was given to Mrs. "T" in her third trimester of pregnancy at the Ujung Loe Health Center with the aim of providing comprehensive midwifery care starting during pregnancy, childbirth, newborns, postpartum, neonates, and family planning. The results of comprehensive midwifery care for Mrs "T" carried out independent and collaborative care starting from the period of pregnancy with physiological complaints and progressing normally, in normal delivery with spontaneous delivery, normal newborns, four times respiratory visits, and three times neonates who proceed normally without any complications and the use of 3-month injectable contraception (DMPA). The conclusion of comprehensive midwifery care for Mrs. "T" starting from 36 weeks, three days of gestation, childbirth, newborns, postpartum, neonates, and family planning with 3-month injection KB (DMPA), proceeded normally without complications or complications carried out according to midwifery service standards using a comprehensive and documented SOAP midwifery care management approach. It is hoped that the results of this study can be used as reading material and references for further researchers, adding insight and learning in the implementation of comprehensive midwifery care, implementing comprehensive midwifery care according to standard operating procedure (SOP) in every health service, especially at the Ujung Loe Health Center, Ujung Loe District, Bulukumba Regency and providing awareness to the public. especially the mother regarding her concern for the health condition of her and her fetus so that it can minimize problems or complications that can occur.

Introduction To Holistic Midwife Care In The Health Optimization Of Pregnant Women In Health Observers At The Primary Level

Anak adalah investasi suatu bangsa. Anak yang sehat menjadi tujuan dan harapan setiap orangtua. Dengan kondisi yang sehat secara fisik, secara sosial dan mental, tidak sekedar terbebas dari penyakit, kecacatan maupun kelemahan. Untuk mencapai kesehatan anak yang maksimal diperlukan upaya menyeluruh (holistis) sejak dalam kandungan. Tujuan dari kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan ibu hamil bahwa pelayanan kebidanan atau kebutuhan ibu hamil tidak hanya kebutuhan fisik saja. Metode yang dilakukan dalam pemberian pendidikan kesehatan ini yaitu ceramah dan diskusi. Sasaran pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah ibu hamil di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Kaliwates sebanyak 33 ibu hamil. Media yang digunakan berupa LCD dan PPT. Hasil dari kegiatan ini adalah adanya peningkatan pengetahuan ibu hamil tentang kebutuhan pelayanan kebidanan dan kebutuhan ibu hamil secara holistik. Adanya pengetahuan yang baik diharapkan mampu meningkatkan kesadaran akan kebutuhan ibu hamil sehingga dapat melahirkan anak yang sehat secara sempurna

Video Consultations and Safety App Targeting Pregnant Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Denmark and Spain: Nested Cohort Intervention Study (STOP Study).

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a public health issue with wide-ranging consequences for both the mother and fetus, and interventions are needed. Therefore, the Stop Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy (STOP) cohort was established with the overall aim to identify pregnant women exposed to IPV through digital screening and offer women screening positive for IPV a digital supportive intervention. The aim of this study was to (1) introduce the design and profile of the STOP cohort study, (2) assess the feasibility of implementing digital IPV screening among pregnant women, and (3) assess the feasibility of implementing a digital supportive intervention targeting pregnant women exposed to IPV. Pregnant women attending antenatal care in the Region of Southern Denmark and in Andalucía, Spain were offered digital screening for IPV using validated scales (Abuse Assessment Screen and Women Abuse Screening Tool). Women who screened positive were eligible to receive a digital supportive intervention. The intervention consisted of 3-6 video consultations with an IPV counselor and a safety planning app. In Denmark, IPV counselors were antenatal care midwives trained by a psychologist specialized in IPV, whereas in Spain, the counselor was a psychologist. Data collection started in February 2021 and was completed in October 2022. Across Denmark and Spain, a total of 19,442 pregnant women were invited for IPV screening and 16,068 women (82.65%) completed the screening. More women in Spain screened positive for exposure to IPV (350/2055, 17.03%) than in Denmark (1195/14,013, 8.53%). Among the women who screened positive, only 31.39% (485/1545) were eligible to receive the intervention with only 104 (21.4%) of these women ultimately receiving it. Digital screening for IPV among pregnant women is feasible in an antenatal care context in Denmark and Spain; however, a digital supportive intervention during pregnancy appears to have limited feasibility as only a minor subgroup of women who screened positive for eligibility received the intervention. More research is needed on how to best support pregnant women exposed to IPV if universal IPV screening is to be implemented in antenatal care.

Mothers’ Satisfaction with Midiwifery Care During Second Stage of Labour at University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex, Akure

The midwife's care of the woman during the second stage of labour entails guiding the labour process, offering physical comfort, emotional support, and keeping a positive relationship while ministering to the woman. Gaining the patient's trust during the labour process requires a strong nurse-patient connection. Midwives play a crucial role in ensuring the best possible pregnancy outcome by establishing rapport with expectant mothers and their families prior to, during, and after labour. At the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex in Akure, the study evaluated mothers' satisfaction with midwifery care during the second stage of labour. The study employed a descriptive research design. The respondents were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. Respondents included only 199 mothers who gave birth vaginally and gave their assent to the study. The majority of respondents (130(65.3%) had a positive experience with their care throughout the second stage of labour, whereas (69(34.7%, had a negative experience. The majority of respondents (127(63.8%) expressed positive satisfaction with midwifery treatment, while 72 (36.2%), expressed negative satisfaction. Finally, it was noted that a p-value of 0.05 (0.000, 2=24.705) exists between maternal satisfaction and the type of midwifery care received by the mother during the second stage of labour. It was recommended among others that Government should provide adequate facilities, staffing and conducive environment for quality health care delivery.

Care for pregnant and postpartum woman with cerebral palsy

Abstract Introduction. Disabled women are often overlooked when it comes to procreation plans and encounter social misunderstanding and lack of support. In addition, their sexual needs are often marginalized. It means that education and professional care of midwives and doctors are necessary to put flesh on problem. Aim. The aim of the work is to present knowledge and familiarize with the subject of perinatal care for a woman with a disability based on an individual case study. Method. For the purposes of this study, the qualitative research method “study case” was used, containing a description of the patient’s obstetric and clinical condition, aimed at its in-depth analysis and assessment. The patient’s informed consent to participate in the study was obtained. C-Hobic care outcome indicators were also used to describe the case. ICNP® reference terminology was used to develop care plans. Summary. Taking care of a patient with cerebral palsy, the midwife undertakes numerous interventions in the field of education of both the woman and the whole family. The overriding goal is to increase the woman’s independence, increase her confidence that she will be able to take care of a newborn and improve her competence in self-care. Due to the constant progress in maternal-fetal medicine, further research is needed on preconception and perinatal care for patients with CP.

Job Satisfaction Model of Primary Health Care Midwives Based on Indonesian Workforce Research in the Health Sector

Promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative efforts that are comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable are employed to enhance the health state of the global population. Within this context, however, the quality of primary health care depends on job satisfaction, which leads to the happiness of human resources in the health sector. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze and formulate a job satisfaction model among primary health care midwives in Indonesia. This study was an advanced secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 by the National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. A total of 87,341 midwives from all 9,669 primary health cares in Indonesia participated in this study. Data were collected by distributing the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, elaborating on the satisfaction level and relevant contributing factors. The prefilled Likert scale questionnaire was analyzed using logistic regression. The findings suggested a model indicating that motivation, work area (region), history of salary delay, and training received were important for their job satisfaction, whereas the motivation aspect contributed the most. Therefore, the local and central governments must consider these factors in the human resource policymaking process.

Community Perspectives on Home Birth in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization released a statement indicating that women can choose to give birth at home if their pregnancy is low risk and they receive the appropriate level of care during labor and childbirth. Additionally, there needs to be a contingency plan for transfer to a properly staffed and equipped birthing unit in case of problems. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health “Safe Birth Model of Care” by 2030 aims to have a midwifery-led continuity of maternity care as standard: low-risk births are to take place at home or at a birth center, depending on the preference of the woman and her family. Low-risk pregnant women will be expected to receive antenatal care from an appropriately trained and experienced primary care physician or midwife, as appropriate, with the option to refer to the comprehensive obstetrics service as necessary. This midwifery-led continuity of care has yet to be implemented in Saudi Arabia (Altaweli et al., 2020).RESEARCH PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to assess the community of respondents to an online survey and perspectives regarding home birth and determine challenges to initiation of a policy and practice of home birth in Saudi Arabia.METHODS: A cross-sectional design using an online 14-item online survey instrument was used to collect data from 5,930 respondents who provided their views on home birth in Saudi Arabia.FINDINGS: A total of 53.4% of respondents were interested in the concept of home birth, with the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for this interest in slightly more than one-third of respondents (37.4%). Additionally, 14.3% hoped to avoid unnecessary medical interventions in a hospital setting. It was also found that 46.6% of the respondents were not interested in the potential for a home birth, and of those, 98.8% attributed their disinterest in the safety of hospitals to their preference of a home birth.CONCLUSIONS: There was significant interest in the concept of home birth in Saudi Arabia due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. This interest was related to a desire of women to have a more positive birth experience and avoid unnecessary medical interventions. The findings suggest a clear need for a fully developed home birth policy, fully integrated with existing maternity care services in Saudi Arabia, and increased awareness of the safety and suitability of home birth for low-risk women. Home birth should be an option for women with low-risk pregnancies in Saudi Arabia.

The demand for competence and qualification of medical personnel in the light of the results of empirical studies

The demand for competence and qualification of medical personnel in the light of the results of empirical studies

Extended home visits can provide multidimensional adapted professional support for parents - an intervention study.

The aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals' experiences of working with extended home visits for parents. It is essential to identify parents, both expectant and with a newborn child, who need support in their parenting abilities at an early stage because children's health and well-being are affected by their home environment as well as by their parents' health and social relationships. Home visits represent a cost-effective way of identifying and supporting families with a newborn. Further research is needed to explore healthcare professionals' experiences working with extended home visits for parents. This was a qualitative interview study focusing on an intervention introduced in the Enhanced Parenting-Extended Home Visits project in Sweden. Data were collected via 13 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals who provide the intervention in antenatal care (midwives) and child health care (CHC nurses and family supporters), and a qualitative content analysis was performed. Data analysis resulted in one theme and four categories. The theme - to provide multidimensional adapted professional support, - and the four categories - strengthened collaboration between professionals enriches their work. Home visits provide time for conversation, which promotes continuity of care and relationships with parents; being humble guests in parents' homes provides insight; and home visits provide the opportunity to strengthen parenting and participation in the family centre. The goals of the Enhanced Parenting-Extended Home Visits project were to strengthen parents' confidence in their parenting abilities and to build trusting relationships with healthcare professionals. The conclusion of this study, from the participants' perspective, is that these goals can be achieved with the intervention. Extended home visits seem to help healthcare professionals provide collaborative, multi-professional support for parents, both expectant and with a newborn child, with unique support needs.

PERINEOTOMY CARE AFTER CHILDBIRTH

Every woman who became pregnant has to undergo the process of delivery. In normal process of delivery the baby is delivered per vagina, an episiotomy is performed by health care provider or midwife. Episiotomy is a surgically planned incision on the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall during the second stage of labour to enlarge the vaginal introits so as to facilitate easy and safe delivery of the fetus. Episiotomy may be advice in the situations such as inelastic perineum, fetal distress, and complicated birth, prolonged second stage of labor, instrumental vaginal delivery and previous perineal surgeries .There are four types of episiotomy: midline, mediolateral, lateral and J shaped. Care of episiotomy involves perineal care, sitz bath, infrared heat, perineal exercises, antiseptic ointments, cold and hot packs The REEDA scale is used for assessing the perineal healing. Complications of episiotomy include perineal discomfort, perineal pain, difculty with breast feeding and walking, perineal bleeding, infection, wound dehiscence and dyspareunia.

Rates of breast feeding and associated factors for First Nations infants in a hospital with a culturally specific caseload midwifery model in Victoria, Australia: a cohort study

ObjectivesThere is an urgent need to improve breast feeding rates for Australian First Nations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) infants. We explored breast feeding outcomes of women having a First...

Sistem Pendukung Keputusan Dalam Pemilihan Bidan Terbaik Untuk Wilayah Medan Menerapkan Metode MOORA dengan Pembobotan ROC

Midwives are professional health workers who have graduated from midwifery education and are registered in accordance with statutory provisions. In practice midwives have attended special training to be able to provide services in the form of midwife care in the form of caring for childbirth and other services. However, the selection of the best midwife, especially at STIKES Indah Medan, is done manually where internal parties make random choices so that complaints are received by patients in their services. In solving this problem, it is better to use a system where selectors can choose the best midwife according to the desired requirements. The system is SPK with Rank Order Centroid weighting through the MOORA (Multi Optimization On The Basis Of Ratio Analysis) method which will produce a solution on the part of STIKES Indah Medan to choose one of the desired midwives

A Point of Care Quality Improvement Initiative for Enhancing Immediate Drying of Babies and Prevention of Hypothermia in Labor Room, Nishtar Medical University, Multan Pakistan

Objective: To find out the current status of prevention of neonatal hypothermia by firstly, initialization of immediate drying and skin to skin contact of all newborns delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery, and secondly, to initiate early breast feeding. Methodology: This was an observational study carried out in labor room of Gyne Unit 1, Nishtar Medical University (NMU) and Hospital, Multan Pakistan from April to September 2019. Based on “Point of Care Quality Improvement (POCQI)” guidelines, Initially, data were collected for 4 weeks during morning shift (phase 1) utilizing 2 indicators i-e immediate drying and number of babies who developed hypothermia within one hour of birth. Data were analyzed; results interpreted, and necessary modifications made. After implementation of changes further data was collected for 24 hours shift of gyne unit 1 for the rest of study period including additional indicators i.e., initiation of early breastfeeding and skin to skin contact. Results: A total of 744 babies delivered over a period of six months during this initiative, which was carried out in 2 phases, the phase-1 comprised of four weeks and included study of 24 babies and the phase 2 included 720 babies over five months. During phase-1, all 24 (100%) newborns were dried immediately after birth and the temperature was recorded among 20 (83.3%) of the babies with lost to follow up of 4 (16.7%) babies due to shifting to NICU for intensive care. During the second phase, among 720 babies that were delivered, 590 (81.9%) received skin-to-skin care for minimum of half hour due to rapid turnover of patients for delivery in labor room. Breastfeeding was initiated within one hour after birth in 593 babies (82.3%). Temperature was recorded among 528 (73.3%) babies with 37 (5.1%) shifted to NICU. Hypothermia was observed in 10 babies (1.4%) during this phase. Practical Implications: Hypothermia is a preventable cause of neonatal mortality which can be easily prevented by training of health care providers, midwives, and lady health visitors to incorporate components of essential newborn care in their medical practice. Conclusion: Implementation of POQCI was found to be highly applicable yielding good response. Keywords: Newborn, hypothermia, immediate drying, point of care quality improvement, neonatal intensive care unit.

Regulation and financing of prenatal screening and diagnostic tests for fetal anomalies in Europe

Abstract Background Pregnant women frequently use prenatal screening and diagnostic tests to detect fetal structural and chromosomal anomalies; however, the regulation and financing of these examinations differ substantially across countries. In this paper we focus on the provision, financing and setting of the following tests in selected European countries: First Trimester Screening (FTS)/Combined Test (CT), Non-invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT), second-trimester ultrasound screening for fetal anomalies, amniocentesis/chorionic villus sampling. Methods We chose 6 European countries that differ in various criteria (e.g., health/insurance system, geographical location) to illustrate the range of possible regulations and forms of funding: Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway, Italy. We conducted a comprehensive hand search and consulted experts from the 6 countries using a questionnaire. Results The results are based on 11 completed expert questionnaires and 22 published sources. The heterogeneity of the provision, regulation and financing of the tests concerns in particular the choice of the first-line screening test for fetal trisomies (FTS/CT, NIPT or the identification of risk factors), the implementation of the NIPT, the reimbursement of the tests, the uptake of the examinations, but also the professional groups responsible for antenatal care (midwives, gynaecologists). There are some similarities between countries, e.g., concerning the provision and financing of invasive tests and of the ultrasound screening for fetal anomalies in the second trimester. Conclusions The results highlight the significant heterogeneity between European countries regarding prenatal screening and diagnostic testing for fetal anomalies. Due to the many ethical aspects of the topic, a broad societal discourse with the relevant interest groups and stakeholders seems to be necessary. Decision-makers should pay particular attention to high-quality and non-directive counselling. Key messages