[National survey on midwifery practice in health facilities in China].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the use of midwifery practice in health facilities and get the baseline data for future action.


METHODS
A national survey was conducted in 2003. Questionnaires were sent to 887 sampled health facilities in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. Midwifery practice data in year 2002 were collected and a descriptive study was done based on the data.


RESULTS
The average proportion of cesarean section was 38.0%. The proportion of episiotomy per 100 vaginal deliveries was 44.9%. The percentage of births delivered by vacuum extraction was 3.6% and the percentage was 1.9% by forceps. The percentages of use of breech extraction and of internal version to vaginal delivery were 1.4% and 0.2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The appropriate use of midwifery practice is not fully guaranteed, thus national regulations should be made to standardize midwifery practice in health facilities imminently.
Division of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Bin
B
Wang
Qi
Q
Shi
Yan
Y
Wang
Nan
N
Li
Ling
L
Shi
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009772:Obstetrical Forceps; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires