Midwifery education in Pacific Island countries: A discussion paper.

Smith, RM; Calvert, B; Kata, E; Hataogo, S; Ioane, TR; Tarabo, M; Kiritome, M; Abraham, J; Lees, T; Devi, C; Ross, L; Mafi, LL; Tuitupou, T; Blackburn, K; Homer, CS

Midwifery education in Pacific Island countries: A discussion paper.

Smith, RM Calvert, B Kata, E Hataogo, S Ioane, TR Tarabo, M Kiritome, M Abraham, J Lees, T Devi, C Ross, L Mafi, LL Tuitupou, T Blackburn, K Homer, CS

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women Birth, 2023, 36, (6), pp. e605-e612
Issue Date:: 2023-11

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Smith, RM
dc.contributor.author	Calvert, B
dc.contributor.author	Kata, E
dc.contributor.author	Hataogo, S
dc.contributor.author	Ioane, TR
dc.contributor.author	Tarabo, M
dc.contributor.author	Kiritome, M
dc.contributor.author	Abraham, J
dc.contributor.author	Lees, T
dc.contributor.author	Devi, C
dc.contributor.author	Ross, L
dc.contributor.author	Mafi, LL
dc.contributor.author	Tuitupou, T
dc.contributor.author	Blackburn, K
dc.contributor.author	Homer, CS
dc.date.accessioned	2024-01-08T22:53:17Z
dc.date.available	2023-05-04
dc.date.available	2024-01-08T22:53:17Z
dc.date.issued	2023-11
dc.identifier.citation	Women Birth, 2023, 36, (6), pp. e605-e612
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192
dc.identifier.issn	1878-1799
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174114
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: The aim for 95% maternal health care coverage and zero-unmet need for family planning in Pacific Island countries by 2030 could be achieved by strengthening the midwifery workforce. To enable health services to provide accessible, locally acceptable, and high-quality care, the midwifery workforce must be regulated and educated to global standards and supported to practice in enabling environments. In 2019, around 64,000 live births occurred in Pacific Island countries, yet information regarding the state the midwifery workforce and midwifery education is limited. AIM: Using data from recent reports and country case studies, this paper provides an overview of the current midwifery education situation in Pacific Island countries and discusses strategic directions for strengthening quality midwifery education and therefore quality midwifery care provision in Pacific Island countries. DISCUSSION: Six Pacific Island countries have midwifery curricula, all post-nursing programs, although few offer midwifery education programs on a regular annual basis. Current programs do not meet ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education. Critical areas for strengthening include making underpinning philosophical frameworks, the vision for midwifery education, and program intended learning outcomes explicit in curricula documents and ensuring integration of these in program implementation. Fortunately, five of six midwifery education programs are under processes of renewal and strengthening against global, regional, and national standards. CONCLUSION: Strengthening the midwifery workforce in the Pacific to meet maternal and newborn health targets can be achieved through supporting the existing midwifery education programs to meet global standards. Strengthened midwifery education programs in Pacific Island countries offer an opportunity to meet each country's maternal and newborn health targets.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Women Birth
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2023.05.008
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	3215 Reproductive medicine
dc.subject.classification	4204 Midwifery
dc.title	Midwifery education in Pacific Island countries: A discussion paper.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	36
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-01-08T22:53:16Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	36
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The aim for 95% maternal health care coverage and zero-unmet need for family planning in Pacific Island countries by 2030 could be achieved by strengthening the midwifery workforce. To enable health services to provide accessible, locally acceptable, and high-quality care, the midwifery workforce must be regulated and educated to global standards and supported to practice in enabling environments. In 2019, around 64,000 live births occurred in Pacific Island countries, yet information regarding the state the midwifery workforce and midwifery education is limited. AIM: Using data from recent reports and country case studies, this paper provides an overview of the current midwifery education situation in Pacific Island countries and discusses strategic directions for strengthening quality midwifery education and therefore quality midwifery care provision in Pacific Island countries. DISCUSSION: Six Pacific Island countries have midwifery curricula, all post-nursing programs, although few offer midwifery education programs on a regular annual basis. Current programs do not meet ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education. Critical areas for strengthening include making underpinning philosophical frameworks, the vision for midwifery education, and program intended learning outcomes explicit in curricula documents and ensuring integration of these in program implementation. Fortunately, five of six midwifery education programs are under processes of renewal and strengthening against global, regional, and national standards. CONCLUSION: Strengthening the midwifery workforce in the Pacific to meet maternal and newborn health targets can be achieved through supporting the existing midwifery education programs to meet global standards. Strengthened midwifery education programs in Pacific Island countries offer an opportunity to meet each country's maternal and newborn health targets.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174114