WHO/Europe and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia have launched the first-ever report on the state of the midwifery workforce in eastern Europe and central Asia.
At the launch event, WHO/Europe, UNFPA and partners issued a joint statement urging Member States, international and nongovernmental organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society to take measures to enhance midwifery education, competencies, regulation, leadership and associations in the European Region.
Midwives provide essential care in spite of challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted health-care services worldwide. Frontline health workers have faced unprecedented challenges, balancing the need to care for their patients with the need to prevent the spread of the virus. They have had to adapt to new protocols and guidelines, and adopt new technologies and techniques to minimize in-person contact while still providing high-quality care.
Among these remarkable health workers are midwives. Despite the tremendous challenges, midwives have continued to provide essential care to pregnant women, mothers and newborns during the pandemic. Their unwavering commitment and adaptability have been essential in supporting maternal and newborn health during these difficult times.
The report
“The state of the midwifery workforce in eastern Europe and central Asia” shows that midwifery is vital to the provision of high-quality maternal and newborn care for all women and newborns in all countries, and that it can avert two thirds of maternal and newborn deaths.
It also highlights the many benefits of investing in midwifery education, including improved primary health care, improved quality of care, and rapid and sustained reduction in maternal and newborn mortality. When midwives are properly educated, regulated and integrated within a multidisciplinary team and a functioning referral system, they can meet approximately 90% of the need for essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health interventions across the life course.
The report finds that there are 137 000 midwives in eastern Europe and central Asia. This is about 5.5 midwives per 10 000 people, which is higher than the global average of 4.4. While these numbers are encouraging, WHO/Europe's regional report “Health and care workforce in Europe: time to act” recently found that midwifery graduates have decreased by 30% in some countries of Region. With an ageing workforce, investments and strategies to retain and recruit more midwives into the profession are critical.
Overall, the report is an important reminder of midwives’ vital role in maternal and newborn health, and the urgent need to invest in their education, regulation and integration within health systems.