The future of midwifery care and education in Belgium: A discussion paper

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Midwifery Pub Date : 2024-11-12 DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2024.104237

Régine Goemaes , Mieke Embo , Ana Belen Hernandez-Garcia , Katelijne De Koster , Geneviève Castiaux , Naziha Hammoucha , Feride Sulejmani , Katrien Beeckman , Annick Bogaerts

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Advanced education of midwives acting during the first 1000 days in life is key in optimum care provision for intergenerational health and wellbeing.

Aim

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current context of midwifery care and (inter)national trends in midwifery education. Gaps for optimizing midwifery education in Belgium are defined.

Results

Societal, medical, and technological changes including medicalization of birth impact the midwife's profession and competency requirements. The World Health Organization demands adapted midwifery competency frameworks to meet these changes and achieve universal health coverage by 2030. While the European Union's directives address the recognition of professional qualifications of midwives, basic midwifery programs in Europe range from vocational to master's programs. In Belgium, basic midwifery programs are direct-entry bachelor programs; however, the program length varies according to the region. A horizon scanning by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center concluded that an extension and advancement of the current midwifery program are urgently needed to enable midwives to fulfil an autonomous role in accordance with national laws and international directives.

Discussion

Basic midwifery education anno 2023 does not fit (1) the changes in women's health towards 2030; (2) the future demands regarding midwifery competence, and (3) the current and future demands for autonomy according to the legal frameworks.

Conclusion

An extension and advancement of the basic midwifery programs are needed to sufficiently arm midwives to meet changes they are confronted with. Therefore, a debate involving all stakeholders concerned with the future of midwifery care and education is recommended.

查看原文本刊更多论文

比利时助产护理和教育的未来：讨论文件。

背景：目的：本文全面分析了助产士护理的现状和助产士教育的（国家间）趋势。结果：结果：社会、医疗和技术的变化，包括分娩医疗化，对助产士的职业和能力要求产生了影响。世界卫生组织要求调整助产士能力框架，以应对这些变化，并在 2030 年前实现全民医保。虽然欧盟的指令涉及对助产士专业资格的认可，但欧洲的助产士基础课程从职业课程到硕士课程不等。在比利时，基础助产士课程是直接入学的本科课程，但课程长度因地区而异。比利时医疗保健知识中心（Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center）的一项前景扫描得出结论，当前的助产士课程亟需扩展和提升，以使助产士能够根据国家法律和国际指令发挥自主作用：讨论：2023 年的助产士基础教育不符合（1）2030 年前妇女健康的变化；（2）未来对助产士能力的要求；（3）当前和未来根据法律框架对自主性的要求：结论：需要扩展和提高基本助产课程，以充分武装助产士，应对他们所面临的变化。因此，建议就助产士护理和教育的未来开展一场由所有利益相关者参与的辩论。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Midwifery 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

7.40%

发文量

221

审稿时长

13.4 weeks

期刊介绍： Midwifery publishes the latest peer reviewed international research to inform the safety, quality, outcomes and experiences of pregnancy, birth and maternity care for childbearing women, their babies and families. The journal’s publications support midwives and maternity care providers to explore and develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes informed by best available evidence. Midwifery provides an international, interdisciplinary forum for the publication, dissemination and discussion of advances in evidence, controversies and current research, and promotes continuing education through publication of systematic and other scholarly reviews and updates. Midwifery articles cover the cultural, clinical, psycho-social, sociological, epidemiological, education, managerial, workforce, organizational and technological areas of practice in preconception, maternal and infant care. The journal welcomes the highest quality scholarly research that employs rigorous methodology. Midwifery is a leading international journal in midwifery and maternal health with a current impact factor of 1.861 (© Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports 2016) and employs a double-blind peer review process.