title: [Perinatal Health Education: survey of French midwives].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perinatal Health Education (PHE) is designed to promote mother and child health. This study investigated the midwives' point of view concerning PHE and tried to identify their reported practices in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive, comparative study. Data were collected by means of an online questionnaire between June and December 2009. The study population was composed of voluntary midwives informed about the online questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  498 midwives took part in the study. Many PHE actions were reported. Private and public health midwives described themselves as being the most active in terms of PHE, especially "support actions". Purely informative actions were preferred (85% of midwives), revealing disparities in dissemination of information. Estimated difficulties in implementing PHE varied according to the type of practice e, with the exception of insufficient training (38 %). Most midwives agreed on the importance of their role in PHE (98%) and the efficacy of PHE for women (79%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study helps to more clearly define the diversity of PHE actions implemented by midwives. It also raises the issue of their initial and continuing training in this area and remuneration of PHE actions other than prenatal education.
authors.forename: Marie-Reine
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eymard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires