Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102116
Sharon J. Mumford , Charlie A. Benzie , Michelle S. Newton , Rebecca L. Hyde , Robyn P. Matthews , Amanda R. Cooklin , Helen L. McLachlan
{"title":"“At what cost? Exploring the financial circumstances of Victorian midwifery students: A population-based cross-sectional study”","authors":"Sharon J. Mumford , Charlie A. Benzie , Michelle S. Newton , Rebecca L. Hyde , Robyn P. Matthews , Amanda R. Cooklin , Helen L. McLachlan","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Australian midwifery workforce crisis is projected to worsen. One strategy is to increase numbers of midwifery graduates. With cost-of-living pressures, tertiary education may be unaffordable for many. We need to understand financial circumstances of students to target strategies to support and sustain the future midwifery workforce.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To explore the financial circumstances of midwifery students in Victoria, Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An online, population-based, cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021 was used to explore midwifery students’ financial circumstances and the impact on course experience and requirements.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Five-hundred and five midwifery students contributed to the data. Most (81 %) were in paid employment. Over half (52 %) reported needing financial support from family or ‘others’, and around two-fifths (39 %) received government support. Most anticipated a debt of between $20,000 and $50,000 on course completion. Over half (51 %) stated that they often attended university classes and paid employment in the same day, and more than half (59 %) reported that they had attended clinical placement and employment in the same day. Two-thirds responded that work commitments adversely affected performance at university. Nearly one-quarter (22 %) reported that they had needed to resign or had been dismissed from employment due to midwifery course requirements. Many reported high levels of mental and physical stress due to financial pressure and balancing paid employment with course requirements.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Victorian midwifery students experience high levels of financial stress and hardship with clinical placement costs creating major challenges. Identification of strategies to address midwifery student financial hardship is essential to sustaining the midwifery profession.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102116"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145310530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102121
Danielle L. Wilson , Dwayne L. Mann , Irene Szollosi , Leonie Callaway , Alka Kothari , Philip Terrill
{"title":"“Sleep on side”: Awareness and anxiety around sleeping position during late pregnancy","authors":"Danielle L. Wilson , Dwayne L. Mann , Irene Szollosi , Leonie Callaway , Alka Kothari , Philip Terrill","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The “Sleep on Side” policy was recently introduced in Australian antenatal clinics to reduce the risk of late stillbirth associated with going-to-sleep on the back.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To assess knowledge of side sleeping recommendations in pregnancy and explore feelings of anxiety in relation to this policy, and how these feelings may impact sleep.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Cross-sectional study of sleep position measured for seven nights between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Participants completed a sleep diary each morning, and at the end of the week completed a survey regarding knowledge and anxiety around sleeping position.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Sleep position data was collected in 80 participants, with 43 participants completing anxiety surveys. Almost all participants (95 %) reported receiving side sleeping advice during pregnancy, the most common source being their antenatal care provider. Twenty-three percent of women reported “moderate” or “very much” anxiety around their sleeping position or waking on their back overnight. Anxiety towards sleeping position was associated with self-reported supine sleep (p < .001), and use of additional pillows to support behind the back (p < .001). Overall self-reported sleep quality was not affected by anxiety, apart from alertness upon awakening (p = .001).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>In this cohort, the Sleep on Side policy has been disseminated widely with women understanding the rationale for encouraging a safe sleeping position. While many women receive this advice with minimal worry, almost a quarter of women may experience anxiety that may potentially affect their sleeping behaviour.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Advice on sleeping position should be carefully balanced with potential harms to maternal sleep and mental health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102121"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145310550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102117
Catherine Hobart Bell , Sue Lukersmith , Hannah Grace Dahlen , Deborah Davis
{"title":"Informed, supported, confident: A realist evaluation of The Birth Map","authors":"Catherine Hobart Bell , Sue Lukersmith , Hannah Grace Dahlen , Deborah Davis","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Birth preparation needs a standardised, communication-focused, structured and collaborative approach that acknowledges women as decision makers.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>The Birth Map</em> is a consumer-driven, woman-led, structured approach to birth preparation in the form of a book.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To evaluate <em>The Birth Map</em> from the perspective of women across different models of care within Australian maternity services.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Realist Evaluation methodology, with 32 self-selected participants from various models of care who gave birth from September to December 2022 throughout Australia. Participants provided reflections of their experiences throughout pregnancy from March to December 2022, and 12 were interviewed postpartum in January and February 2023. Transcriptions of reflections and interviews were coded for context, mechanism and outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Women saw themselves as decision makers and used <em>The Birth Map</em> to help make sense of their options and to communicate their needs to their care team. Reports were positive across communication, experience and decision making. Communication barriers included short appointment times and dismissive care providers, which impacted the experience negatively and impeded decision making.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Maternal Decision Making is a process of balancing information and individual circumstances. Women use a process of sensemaking to build support and confidence for decision making. Supported Maternal Decision Making is crucial to a Respectful Maternity Experience. Whilst <em>The Birth Map</em> was a mitigating factor to the identified barriers, care provider training is recommended.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The structured, woman-led approach to birth preparation supports effective communication in maternity services through sensemaking, relationship building and supported maternal decision making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102117"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effect of a trauma-informed care video training program for midwives: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Saki K. Doi , Asuka Takae , Yoshiaki Kanamori , Yuka Ito , Sawako Kamo , Mako Iida , Hiroki Asaoka , Yuki Miyamoto , Maiko Suzuki , Yuko Manome , Daisuke Nishi","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Trauma-informed care (TIC) by midwives has the potential to prevent re-traumatization among perinatal women and support midwives’ mental health. The development and evaluation of accessible TIC training programs could facilitate the integration of TIC into midwifery care.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To develop a TIC video-based training program for midwives and to examine its effects in improving midwives' outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A parallel group design was conducted to investigate the effect of a developed TIC video training program. Midwives in an advanced medical care hospital for high-risk perinatal women were recruited over a one-month period. They were then randomly assigned to an intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the intervention group accessed the program individually over two months, while the waitlist control group was offered the same program after the study period. The primary outcome measure was the midwives’ attitudes toward TIC (ARTIC-10). The secondary outcome measures were psychological safety (Psychological Safety Scale) and burnout (Professional Fulfillment Index). To examine the intervention effect, we compared changes over time between groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Forty-two midwives (21per group) participated in the study. At three months post-intervention, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in their attitudes toward TIC(p = 0.02 [95 % CI, 0.07, 0.86]), workplace psychological safety (p = 0.01 [95 % CI, 0.11, 0.89]) and decreased burnout interpersonal disengagement (p = 0.008 [95 % CI, −0.74,- 0.12]).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The individual video-based TIC training improved midwives’ TIC attitudes, psychological safety, and burnout. Future studies are needed to examine implementation at the organisational level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102115"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-10-06DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102114
Sahar Hassan , Aidah Alkaissi , Ibtesam Dwekat , Fatima Hammad Madany , Maha Nahal , Raheeghi Awni , Hana Abu Lail , Wafa Alamleh , Eman Alshawish , Jennifer Dabis , Rihab Sandouka
{"title":"Strengthening midwifery education: An Assessment of Bachelor’s degree midwifery curricula in the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)","authors":"Sahar Hassan , Aidah Alkaissi , Ibtesam Dwekat , Fatima Hammad Madany , Maha Nahal , Raheeghi Awni , Hana Abu Lail , Wafa Alamleh , Eman Alshawish , Jennifer Dabis , Rihab Sandouka","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>In 1997, the first four-year direct-entry bachelor’s midwifery program was launched in the West Bank, oPt, followed by four similar programs at other local universities. Since then, no comprehensive evaluation has been conducted to assess the quality or content of these programs.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To assess four-year direct-entry bachelor’s midwifery programs against the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) essential competencies for midwifery practice.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional rapid assessment of all five direct-entry bachelor’s midwifery programs in the West Bank was conducted using a self-assessment tool comprising 92 ICM essential competencies. Data were collected by midwifery faculty members and analyzed using frequencies and percentages for each competency category based on the total number of assessed competencies.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Across the five midwifery programs, total competency scores ranged from 54.3 % to 68.5 %. Scores were observed in ongoing care of women and newborns (77.8–88.9 %) and antenatal (70.6–84.4 %). Competencies related to care during labor and birth ranged from 61.5 % to 69.2 %, while the lowest scores were in sexual and reproductive health and rights (16.7–41.7 %).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Findings indicate that, although midwifery programs share similar core concepts, variations and gaps exist, particularly in competency coverage, with some deficiencies linked to limited clinical training opportunities and services.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The assessment results should guide midwifery programs in revising curricula to integrate ICM competencies, while faculty need training in pedagogy, evidence-based updates, and research skills; mentorship and capacity-building are also essential for faculty, clinical instructors, and students.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102114"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145246171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding midwifery workforce retention: An Australian cross-sectional study","authors":"Frances Finch , Stuart Watson , Georgia Griffin , Zoe Bradfield","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Retention is a known challenge in international and Australian midwifery workforce.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>Identification of drivers of workforce retention is essential to enable strategic planning for service delivery, consistent with workforce trends. Limited contemporary, midwifery-specific workforce data within Western Australia (WA) exists.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To explore midwives’ perspectives of factors contributing to retention, and views on their working environment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted with midwives within the largest maternity service in WA. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. Qualitative data underwent content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>A total 193 midwives participated. Modelling demonstrated that perceptions of workplace culture was positively associated with the probability of midwives feeling acknowledged by the organisation for their work (<em>OR</em>=6.61, <em>p</em> < .001), and with better midwifery retention (<em>b</em>=3.34, <em>p</em> < .001). Acknowledgement was not a significant direct predictor of retention (<em>b</em>=1.12, <em>p</em> = .150), thus, was not a significant mediator of the association between workplace culture and retention. Top three reasons influencing midwives’ intention to stay were pay (89.6 %), patient ratios reflecting acuity (82.4 %) increasing the profile of the midwifery profession (80.8 %). Content analysis of midwives’ perspectives on retention factors exposed three categories: Intraprofessional relationships; Valuing the workforce; Career satisfaction.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Midwives’ perspectives on retention emphasise the need for transformational leadership, professional recognition, and workplace empowerment as key strategies for sustaining the midwifery workforce.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Findings provide novel insight into indicators of WA midwifery workforce retention. Recommendations for midwife-driven solutions provide direction to enable midwifery leadership to support sustainable midwifery workforce retention into the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102113"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102110
Lucy Jones , Emma Williamson , Hannah Twiddy , Charlotte Krahé , Alison Brodrick , Pauline Slade
{"title":"Psychological implications of attending a birth review: A pre-post observational study of birth experience and post-traumatic stress symptoms","authors":"Lucy Jones , Emma Williamson , Hannah Twiddy , Charlotte Krahé , Alison Brodrick , Pauline Slade","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Birth reviews provide a space to talk about birth experiences. Women report finding them helpful, but their specific psychological impact has not been explored. This study investigated whether childbirth experience, perception of birth as traumatic, post-traumatic stress symptoms, shame, and self-compassion changed following a birth review. Psychological flexibility was also examined as a potential predictor of any changes.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Women in the postnatal period (N = 211), who had been referred or self-referred for a birth review, were invited to participate in a pre-post observational study. Birth reviews were completed by midwives from the maternal mental health service trained in the five-step model for listening to women after childbirth. Birth reviews form part of an integrated childbirth trauma service with potential for psychological referral. Eighty-five participants completed baseline measures examining childbirth experience, post-traumatic stress symptoms, shame, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility before their birth review. Two to six weeks after their birth review, 70 participants repeated the same measures. Pre-post comparisons from 70 women were analysed, as well as conducting intention-to-treat analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Perception of the birth as traumatic significantly reduced, and perception of childbirth experience, levels of shame, and post-traumatic stress symptoms all significantly improved following birth review. There was no significant change in total self-compassion. Psychological flexibility did not predict post-review scores when controlling for baseline levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Midwifery birth reviews using the presented model may improve perceptions of childbirth and reduce traumatic birth perception, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and trauma-related shame. A randomised controlled trial is now required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102110"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102112
Jutharat Attawet , Pratibha Bhandari , Teresa Lewis , Cong Wang , Yunjing Qiu
{"title":"Midwives' preparedness for climate change impacts on maternal and child health: A scoping review","authors":"Jutharat Attawet , Pratibha Bhandari , Teresa Lewis , Cong Wang , Yunjing Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Midwives are frontline healthcare providers for pregnant women, yet gaps in their knowledge and training on extreme heat and air pollution limit their ability to provide effective care during these climate-related challenges.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This scoping review aimed to explore midwives' knowledge, adaptation, and preparedness for caring for pregnant women during climate change-related events, with a focus on extreme heat and air pollution.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. A total of 272 articles were retrieved from multiple databases, of which five studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies comprised qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, case study, and review designs.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The review revealed two key areas. First, midwives demonstrated varying levels of knowledge and preparedness regarding climate change-related events, particularly extreme heat and air pollution, with implications for maternal and child health. Second, barriers and enablers were identified: limited training, weak institutional support, and inadequate policies hindered practice, whereas professional development initiatives and supportive leadership acted as enablers.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings highlight an urgent need to integrate education on such climate change-related events into midwifery training. Strengthening midwives' knowledge and preparedness is essential to empower them in safeguarding maternal and child health amidst growing climate-related challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102112"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145208856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-09-29DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102109
Andreia Soares Goncalves , Ana Paula Prata , Christine McCourt , Richard Ssegonja , Filipa Sampaio
{"title":"Economic evaluation and budget impact analysis of midwifery-led care for low-risk pregnancies in Portugal","authors":"Andreia Soares Goncalves , Ana Paula Prata , Christine McCourt , Richard Ssegonja , Filipa Sampaio","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Midwifery-led models of care for low-risk pregnancies are associated with improved outcomes for mothers and babies, without additional adverse effects. These models are also considered more cost-effective than doctor-led or shared-care approaches.</div></div><div><h3>Problem</h3><div>In Portugal, midwifery-led antenatal care is not widely implemented, and its economic impact remains unexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To estimate the cost implications of implementing a midwifery-led antenatal care model for low-risk pregnancies in Portugal, compared to standard doctor-led care, from the perspective of the Portuguese National Health Service.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A decision-tree model was developed to simulate the antenatal period through birth, comparing midwifery-led and doctor-led care. The eligible population included low-risk pregnant women. Outcomes included preterm birth, spontaneous vaginal birth, instrumental birth, and caesarean section. A budget impact analysis estimated the financial implications for the national health service. Sensitivity and scenario analyses tested the robustness of findings by varying key parameters and assumptions.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Midwifery-led care was estimated to cost €23.08 million, compared to €39.35 million for doctor-led care, resulting in projected savings of €16.27 million. Lower rates of preterm birth, instrumental deliveries, and caesarean sections, alongside increased spontaneous vaginal births, accounted for €10.07 million in cost-offsets. Total savings were estimated at €26.34 million, or €340 per pregnancy/birth, representing a 25.8 % reduction in maternity-related expenditure.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and conclusion</h3><div>Midwifery-led care presents a promising, cost-saving alternative to the current standard of care in Portugal, with the potential to improve clinical outcomes and optimize resource use.</div><div>Further research is needed to evaluate long-term economic and health impacts beyond birth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102109"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145202709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Women and BirthPub Date : 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102107
Hannah M. Brennan , Hannah A. Long , Catherine Chmiel , Debbie M. Smith
{"title":"Coping strategies and interventions to prevent and alleviate work-related burnout in midwives: A rapid scoping review of quantitative and qualitative research","authors":"Hannah M. Brennan , Hannah A. Long , Catherine Chmiel , Debbie M. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Work-related burnout in healthcare is a public health crisis. It is particularly prevalent in midwives, due to high workloads, staff shortages, and the emotional demands of providing care for birthing women. Burnout affects midwives’ wellbeing and ability to provide high-quality care, exacerbating workforce challenges.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>Coping strategies and interventions to prevent and alleviate work-related burnout in midwives have been described in the literature.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Identify and describe the evidence on coping strategies and interventions to prevent and alleviate work-related burnout in midwives.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A rapid scoping review was conducted with systematic searches in four electronic databases. Three reviewers screened and extracted the data on reported coping strategies and interventions, which were collated and presented in a narrative format.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>7379 articles were identified, and twenty-one articles were included. Five overarching types of coping strategies to prevent and alleviate burnout in midwives were present in the included studies: Support and understanding from colleagues; Structured support from the workplace; Support from friends and family; Ability to reflect and learn professionally and personally from events; Awareness of self-care techniques for use in practice and after events.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and conclusion</h3><div>Maternity services must prioritise workforce wellbeing by increasing the focus on preventing and alleviating burnout to support the retention of midwives and ensure the safe, effective care of women. Future research could focus on exploring how practical support for midwives, such as supervision and debriefing could be implemented effectively, and identify realistic, sustainable ways to integrate psychology-informed approaches into midwifery practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 6","pages":"Article 102107"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}