title: Delivering the evidence to improve the health of women and newborns: State of the World's Midwifery, report 2014.
abstract: The State of the World's Midwifery Report 2014: A universal pathway, a women's right to health (SoWMy2014) was published in June 2014 and joins the ranks of a number of publications which contribute to the growing body of evidence about a global midwifery workforce that can improve maternal and child health.This editorial provides an overview of these publications that have been supported by global movements in the area of sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health over the last four years. Background information is given on the methodology and data collection of SoWMy2014, the main findings cover the area of the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of midwifery services and a 2 page country brief shows the SRMNH data and workforce projections for each of the 73 "Countdown countries" that participated.SoWMy 2014 report shows that midwives can provide 87% of the needed essential care for women and newborns, when educated and trained to international standards. Midwives however, are most effective when they work within a functional health system and enabling environment.Also, a supportive team of auxiliaries, physicians and specialists is essential in order to ensure coverage of SRMNH services to women and newborns across the whole continuum of care, from pre-pregnancy through to pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period and from household to hospital.Based on these findings, the report puts forward a vision of Midwifery2030, a pathway for women's health and for midwifery policy and planning through the end of 2030. It promotes women-centered and midwife-led care to achieve the goal of universal health coverage for all women.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Day-Stirk
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McConville
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laski
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerra-Arias
authors.forename: Petra Ten
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Hoope-Bender
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michel-Schuldt
authors.affiliation: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Environment House, 11, Chemin des Anémones, CH-1219, Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland. debernis@unfpa.org.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Bernis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*