How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future?
Background: Internationally, midwives’ professional autonomy is being challenged, resulting in their inability to practice to their full scope of practice. This situation contrasts with the increasing international calls for strengthening the midwifery profession. The aim of this study therefore is...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/12/1800 |
| _version_ | 1797594508703039488 |
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| author | Joeri Vermeulen Maaike Fobelets Valerie Fleming Ans Luyben Lara Stas Ronald Buyl |
| author_facet | Joeri Vermeulen Maaike Fobelets Valerie Fleming Ans Luyben Lara Stas Ronald Buyl |
| author_sort | Joeri Vermeulen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Internationally, midwives’ professional autonomy is being challenged, resulting in their inability to practice to their full scope of practice. This situation contrasts with the increasing international calls for strengthening the midwifery profession. The aim of this study therefore is to explore Belgian midwives’ views on their current and future autonomy. Methods: An online survey among Belgian midwives was performed. Data were collected and analyzed using a quantitative approach, while quotes from respondents were used to contextualize the quantitative data. Results: Three hundred and twelve midwives from different regions and professional settings in Belgium completed the questionnaire. Eighty-five percentage of respondents believe that they are mostly or completely autonomous. Brussels’ midwives feel the most autonomous, while those in Wallonia feel the least. Primary care midwives feel more autonomous than hospital-based midwives. Older midwives and primary care midwives feel less recognized and respected by other professionals in maternity care. The majority of our respondents believe that in future midwives should be able to work more autonomously in constructive collaboration with other professionals. Conclusion: While Belgian midwives generally rated their own professional autonomy as high, a significant majority of respondents desire more autonomy in future. In addition, our respondents want to be recognized and respected by society and other health professionals in maternity care. It is recommended to prioritize efforts in enhancing midwives’ autonomy, while also addressing the need for increased recognition and respect from society and other maternity care professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:24:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a3484b763cb4f1795d65f25ae6624e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:24:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a3484b763cb4f1795d65f25ae6624e62023-11-18T10:39:19ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-06-011112180010.3390/healthcare11121800How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future?Joeri Vermeulen0Maaike Fobelets1Valerie Fleming2Ans Luyben3Lara Stas4Ronald Buyl5Department Health Care, Brussels Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 1090 Brussels, BelgiumDepartment Health Care, Brussels Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 1090 Brussels, BelgiumFaculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 5UX, UKCentre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UKDepartment of Public Health, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Public Health, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumBackground: Internationally, midwives’ professional autonomy is being challenged, resulting in their inability to practice to their full scope of practice. This situation contrasts with the increasing international calls for strengthening the midwifery profession. The aim of this study therefore is to explore Belgian midwives’ views on their current and future autonomy. Methods: An online survey among Belgian midwives was performed. Data were collected and analyzed using a quantitative approach, while quotes from respondents were used to contextualize the quantitative data. Results: Three hundred and twelve midwives from different regions and professional settings in Belgium completed the questionnaire. Eighty-five percentage of respondents believe that they are mostly or completely autonomous. Brussels’ midwives feel the most autonomous, while those in Wallonia feel the least. Primary care midwives feel more autonomous than hospital-based midwives. Older midwives and primary care midwives feel less recognized and respected by other professionals in maternity care. The majority of our respondents believe that in future midwives should be able to work more autonomously in constructive collaboration with other professionals. Conclusion: While Belgian midwives generally rated their own professional autonomy as high, a significant majority of respondents desire more autonomy in future. In addition, our respondents want to be recognized and respected by society and other health professionals in maternity care. It is recommended to prioritize efforts in enhancing midwives’ autonomy, while also addressing the need for increased recognition and respect from society and other maternity care professionals.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/12/1800midwivesmidwiferymidwifery autonomyautonomyprofessionalizationmaternity care |
| spellingShingle | Joeri Vermeulen Maaike Fobelets Valerie Fleming Ans Luyben Lara Stas Ronald Buyl How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future? Healthcare midwives midwifery midwifery autonomy autonomy professionalization maternity care |
| title | How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future? |
| title_full | How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future? |
| title_fullStr | How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future? |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future? |
| title_short | How Do Midwives View Their Professional Autonomy, Now and in Future? |
| title_sort | how do midwives view their professional autonomy now and in future |
| topic | midwives midwifery midwifery autonomy autonomy professionalization maternity care |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/12/1800 |
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