Speaker: Lynnelle Moran
Facilitator: Caitlin Goodwin
How do professional connections and relationships impact midwives wellbeing and career sustainability?
In this presentation, Lynnelle will share preliminary findings from her Grounded Theory study. How do professional connections and relationships impact midwives wellbeing and career sustainability?
Emerging findings highlight the importance, value and protective nature of professional connections for midwives, as well as the vulnerabilities that form in their absence. The data demonstrates that regardless of career stage, the strength of midwives relationships and connections is intrinsic to their sustainability and wellbeing.
Glaserian Grounded Theory was used in this study. In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 Midwives from across Australia to capture a depth of understanding of how collegial relationships impact across the career continuum.
Participants describe how the absence of connection in midwifery is taking a personal and professional toll, resulting in psychological and physical impacts such as feelings of disconnection, disillusionment, isolation, fear and dread, all of which have a strong correlation with absenteeism, reduction of shifts, and attrition.
In contrast, participants who experience a practice environment that supports and values professional connections and relationships reported high levels of professional satisfaction, collaborative interdisciplinary teams, role understanding, autonomy, trust and support to practice to their full midwifery scope, and to continue to develop professionally and explore diverse career paths in midwifery.
Conclusively, participants viewed relationships and connections as vital to their sustainability in midwifery and to their psychological and physical wellbeing. These emerging findings point to an urgent need to recognise and legitimise the importance of connection and professional relationships for midwives to sustain and thrive within the profession.
Speakers: Rachael Ame Maima and Linda Deys
Facilitator: Caroline Maringa/Nyambura
Maternal and newborn mortality rates in Papua New Guinea are among the highest in the world, with around 170 deaths for every 100, 000 women and 20 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births each year. The causes for many of these deaths are preventable or treatable when women have equal access to safe, quality health care. Lack of midwives and resources increases the impact for remote communities but also for those living in cities such as Port Moresby.
In April 2024 the fourth group of the PNG Midwifery Leadership Buddy Project met in Port Moresby with 14 PNG and 7 Australian midwifery mentors, aiming to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in PNG. This twinning program of the PNG Midwifery Society and the Australian College of Midwives is funded by Rotary and informed by the ICM Member Association Capacity Assessment Tool (MACAT). PNG buddies identified quality improvement projects within their workplaces, with the Australian midwives supporting the development of leadership and advocacy skills for the projects to be completed.
This presentation will introduce one of the 2024 buddy relationships and project which aimed to increase the known haemoglobin level of women accessing antenatal care in a clinic in Port Moresby. It will describe the importance of a known Hb and demonstrate the processes, challenges, successes and setbacks experienced and highlight the importance of resilience and patience. It will emphasise how professional midwifery connections and mentorship can promote leadership, improve maternity outcomes, and strengthen the role of midwives across countries.
Speaker: Rizka Ayu Setyani
Facilitator: Adetoro Adegoke
Maternal and child health is a critical public health priority in Indonesia; however, fragmented healthcare delivery and inequitable access to services continue to hinder optimal outcomes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an integrated primary health service model in improving maternal and child health outcomes, focusing on midwives as central agents connecting healthcare systems, communities, and families.
A mixed-methods approach was employed across 10 primary healthcare facilities in urban and rural Indonesia. Quantitative data from patient records and service utilization statistics were analyzed, complemented by qualitative insights from interviews and focus group discussions with midwives, healthcare workers, and families.
The findings revealed a significant increase in antenatal and postnatal care visits (p 0.05) and improved continuity of care, including timely referrals and follow-ups. Midwives reported strengthened collaboration with community health workers and local facilities, while families highlighted better access to culturally responsive and holistic care. The introduction of digital tools further streamlined coordination and reduced delays in service delivery.
These results demonstrate that integrated primary health services can strengthen maternal and child healthcare systems, with midwives playing a pivotal role in bridging gaps and fostering trust. Scaling such models nationwide could enhance Safe Motherhood initiatives and accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers: Rowsan Ara, Joy Kemp and Farida Begum
Facilitator: Hayat Emam Mohammed Gommaa
In Bangladesh, as in many countries around the world, midwives regularly face workplace abuse, but few incidents are reported or resolved appropriately. Most midwives/nurses and students are unaware of their rights to a safe workplace or learning environment and freedom from abuse, violence, discrimination or degrading treatment and may not recognise abuse when it occurs. Therefore, in 2024, the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery in Bangladesh (DGNM), with support from the UK and UNFPA, developed a framework to safeguard midwives/nurses and students from workplace abuse, connect them with their workplace rights and establish a zero-tolerance approach to harassment.
A working group was formed to develop the framework, with representatives from policy level, practice, education, regulatory body, administration, professional associations and women’s groups. Expert advice was provided by a regional safeguarding specialist and the draft was validated at a national workshop. The framework consists of a survivor-focused standard operating procedure aligned with national laws and guidelines, a dedicated safeguarding cell within the DGNM, and a helpline and email address for reporting abuse. There are newly-defined reporting and investigation processes and the provision of medical, legal and psychosocial assistance as required. Faculty and nurse/midwife managers received training-of-trainers and national and divisional staff, midwives/nurses and students received orientation.
Next steps in 2025 will be final approval from the Ministry, launch and implementation of the framework with dissemination to all nurses and midwives, education institutions, students and service managers, through the DGNM, the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council and professional associations.
Speakers: Ronny Valenzuela, Vicki Penwell & Vijaya Krishnan
Facilitator: Adebukunola Olajumoke Afolabi
Collaboration is a cornerstone of effective, safe, and respectful maternity care. The International Childbirth Initiative framework centers the role of midwives in the provision of respectful care and creates a space to allow for increased understanding and promotion of midwifery across countries where midwifery has not been integrated. The goal of the Initiative is to promote practices that allow for safe physiological birth, including promotion of the midwifery philosophy and access to continuous support. The need for midwives is greater than ever as globally we observe a trend of increasing maternal mortality and sharply increasing rates of cesarean birth.
This panel will introduce the Initiative, with midwives speaking from participating health facilities in Chile, India, and the Philippines about their experiences of collaborating with their community, physicians, nurses, administrators, and policy makers through the Initiative’s platform.
Speaker: Carla Godoy
Facilitator: Susana Ku
Las parteras desempeñan un papel fundamental en la salud y el bienestar de nuestras comunidades, pero han enfrentan desafÃos como la falta de reconocimiento, apoyo institucional y oportunidades laborales. Es esencial fortalecer su rol, generar empleo y garantizar el respeto por su labor.
Más que un oficio, ser partera es una vocación que implica acompañar a las madres en momentos cruciales con profesionalismo y seguridad. Sin embargo, a pesar de su importancia histórica, muchas veces no reciben el reconocimiento que merecen. Para cambiar esta realidad, es clave impulsar oportunidades laborales en hospitales, clnicas y programas comunitarios de salud.
La solución pasa por la organización, la creación de redes de apoyo y la búsqueda de alianzas con el sector público y privado. Al unir fuerzas, es posible reducir el desempleo dentro de la comunidad de parteras y asegurar que su labor sea vista como indispensable para el bienestar social.
El camino hacia un mayor reconocimiento y estabilidad laboral requiere compromiso y trabajo conjunto. La unión de las parteras es su mayor fortaleza para lograr que su profesión sea valorada y esencial en la sociedad.
….
Midwives play a fundamental role in the health and well-being of our communities, but they have faced challenges such as a lack of recognition, institutional support, and job opportunities. It is essential to strengthen their role, create jobs, and ensure respect for their work.
More than a profession, being a midwife is a vocation that involves accompanying mothers in crucial moments with professionalism and confidence. However, despite their historical importance, they often do not receive the recognition they deserve. To change this reality, it is key to promote job opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and community health programs.
The solution lies in organization, the creation of support networks, and the pursuit of partnerships with the public and private sectors. By joining forces, it is possible to reduce unemployment within the midwifery community and ensure that their work is seen as indispensable to social well-being.
The path to greater recognition and job stability requires commitment and collaborative work. The unity of midwives is their greatest strength in ensuring that their profession is valued and essential in society.
Check time in your location https://bit.ly/VIDM25-session-20
Speaker: Elsie Gayle
Facilitator: Celine Lemay
Mothers and Babies of African Descent have some of the poorest outcomes of the childbearing continuum irrespective of their gross national income (GNI) per capita, whether low, medium or high income countries.
The establishment of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent at the United Nations (Geneva) in December 2022 began the journey to create a dedicated forum to focus on midwives and mothers who are on the ground delivering and receiving maternity care within those communities. Mother and Midwives Across the Diaspora has made intervention at each Permanent Forum Session to support this work.
The aim of the presentation is to share the journey to date of this unique network, to refocus on the value of midwifery to ameliorating mortality and morbidity of Black mothers and babies worldwide. It will describe the approach being used to garner the knowledge and skills of midwives across the world, utilising every means of supporting professional and vocational approaches to achieve its aims. It will share outcomes and achievements. The presentation will welcome ongoing support of delegates in the furthering of good global midwifery relationships.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent
Check time in your location https://bit.ly/VIDM25-session-22
Speakers: Marjolein Pijnappels and Susana Ku Carbonell
Facilitator: Catherine Salam
The Birth Future International Project explores innovative future scenarios for birth care, grounded in developments shaped by birthing communities and midwives as key agents of change. This study employs a qualitative method approach, integrating traditional participatory research methodologies with innovative, arts-based practices to guide participants through immersive processes of exploration and co-creation. Our cross-cultural sampling includes midwives from the Netherlands and Peru 90 , alongside service users from India, offering diverse perspectives on the evolving dynamics of birth care.
Our data analysis is based on action research analysis. Preliminary data analysis has informed the development of a zine, which synthesizes participant contributions into an accessible, creative format. This zine unveils a transformative vision for birth care, such as different ways of developing perinatal technology (technology for autonomy, rather than control), the role of the community in which birth (care) is embedded, addressing systemic injustice and inequality in global north and south, midwives as educated birth advocates/portals for bridging new ways of (birth) care, those articulated through critical reflections on participants’ lived experiences and current practices. Participants then identified innovative, community-centered care models that emphasize equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusivity. Furthermore, the preliminary findings underscore the potential of participatory, arts-based research to amplify underrepresented voices and foster critical discourse on the future of maternal and newborn care.
By integrating interdisciplinary methodologies and global perspectives, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on the co-creation of equitable, humane, and sustainable birth care practices.
