Failure or progress?: The current state of the professionalisation of midwifery in Europe

Joeri Vermeulen, Joeri Vermeulen and Ans Luyben, Ans Luyben and Rhona O’Connell, Rhona O’Connell and Patricia Gillen, Patricia Gillen and Ramon Escuriet, Ramon Escuriet and Valerie Fleming, Valerie Fleming (2019) Failure or progress?: The current state of the professionalisation of midwifery in Europe. European Journal of Midwifery, 3 (2). pp. 1-9. ISSN 2585-2906

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION Throughout Europe midwives called for increasing professionalisation of midwifery during the 1980s and 1990s. While the Bologna Declaration, in 1999, supported this development in education and research, it remains unclear how other fields, such as practice, have fared so far. This study therefore aimed to explore the current state of professionalisation of midwifery in Europe. METHODS An exploratory inquiry was conducted with an on-line semistructured questionnaire. Its content was based on the Greenwood sociological criteria for a profession. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis were used to analyse the data. Participants were national
delegates from member countries to the European Midwives Association. RESULTS Delegates from 29 European countries took part. In mos countries, progress towards professionalisation of midwifery has been made through the move of education into higher education, coupled with
opportunities for postgraduate education and research. Lack of progress was noted, in particular in regard to midwifery practice, regulation, and leadership in health care provision and education. Most countries had a code of ethics for midwives as well as a midwifery association. Based on
organisational collaborations with other disciplines, the sustainability of a distinct professional culture was unclear. An increased focus on future development of midwifery practice was proposed. CONCLUSIONS Progress in midwifery education and research has taken place. However, midwives’ current roles in practice as well as leadership
and their influence on healthcare culture and politics are matters of concern. Future efforts for advancing professionalisation in Europe should focus on the challenges in these areas.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	education, midwives, profession, health care, midwifery, maternity care
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Medicine
Depositing User:	Mrs Ni Made Yunia Dwi Savitri
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2022 00:41
Last Modified:	04 Jul 2022 00:41
URI:	http://eprints.triatmamulya.ac.id/id/eprint/1200

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