International Day of The Midwife Means Global Recognition of Excellence In Health Care

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 05 May 2005 - 8:00 PDT

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Midwifery care continues to play a vital role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes around the globe, said the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) as it prepares to celebrate the International Day of the Midwife on May 5, 2005. ACNM will join dozens of midwifery associations to honor the accomplishments of midwives in every country, and will remind policymakers about the challenges implicit in delivering quality health care to women and their families.

"Rising cesarean delivery rates, issues with access and reimbursement, the continued medicalization of birth in this country - these are just a few of the reasons why the International Day of the Midwife is important in 2005," said Katherine Camacho Carr, CNM, PhD, president of the ACNM. Dr. Carr practices at Highline Midwifery and Women's Health in Seattle, Washington.

In the United States, midwife-attended deliveries have doubled in the past ten years, to more than 300,000 in 2002. 98% of midwife-attended deliveries occur in the hospital.

Nearly 10,000 certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives provide care during 20 million patient visits each year, in practice settings as diverse as teaching hospitals and publicly-financed clinics in under-privileged inner city or rural communities.

"The secret to success for midwives is their commitment to providing high quality care while continuously listening to women," said Carr. "In our current, fast-paced, high-tech, money-driven health care system, women are more anxious than ever to build a relationship with a health care professional they can trust. The commitment midwives make to women's health is rewarded by health outcomes that are comparable to or better than physicians."

America's certified nurse-midwives are also reaching out to women around the world through international education and professional development programs. Recent projects include support for the development of the Afghan Midwives Association, the launch of an innovative home-based life-saving skills education program in Ethiopia and Ghana, and consultations in tsunami-stricken Indonesia. .

ACNM is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary next month, with a special anniversary-themed Annual Meeting & Exhibit, during which 2000 certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives will gather to discuss the latest research and debate policy agendas for the upcoming year.

To learn more about nurse-midwifery in America, visit http://www.midwife.org. To learn more about midwifery across the globe, visit the International Confederation of Midwives at http://www.internationalmidwives.org.

For more information, please contact Tim Clarke, Jr., ACNM Communications Manager at (240) 485-1821 or via email at tclarke@acnm.org.

With roots dating to 1929, the American College of Nurse-Midwives is the oldest women's health care association in the U.S. ACNM's mission is to promote the health and well-being of women and infants within their families and communities through the development and support of the profession of midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives. Midwives believe every individual has the right to safe, satisfying health care with respect for human dignity and cultural variations. More information about ACNM can be found at http://www.midwife.org.

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