International Day of Midwives 2020 - Midwives with women: Celebrate, demonstrate, mobilize, unite - Our time is NOW

International Day of Midwives (IDM) is celebrated on May 5th of every year.   

 This may 5th is special more special in many ways

1. Midwifery day in the International Year of Midwives

2. Midwifery day after the Midwifery Service Initiative of Government of India is on roll

3  Midwifery day @ Covid times providing more opportunity for professional deliberations more than ever  

We have been celebrating Midwifery day every year to highlight role midwives play for the promotion of maternal health through out the globe. Sensitising the public and  health care providers themselves on the importance of Midwifery model of care has been the greatest challenge. 

This year Midwifery day comes with more hope. Considering the benefit of Midwifery model of care on birth outcomes, government of India has already initiated steps for Implementing Midwifery Care Units across the public health sectors in India. 

India had made a significant improvement in the maternal and child health outcome through the various interventions implemented under the umbrella programme National Health Mission (NHM) which was launched in 2013 subsuming two existing health programmes then, the National Rural Health Mission and National Urban Health Mission.  The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has reduced from 301 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2001–03 as per the Registrar General of India, Sample Registration System (RGI, SRS) to 130 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births in 2014–16 (RGI, SRS). As per the SRS 2015-17 the MMR is 122 per 100 000 live birth. Now the government is working for the national health policy target to attain a maternal mortality ratio of 100 by 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)  target of less than 70 by 2030.

The progressive changes in the delivery of maternal health services has contributed to improvement in many of the maternal child health indicators. But it also resulted in over medicalization of birth. The proportion of birth by caesarean section, episiotomies, epidural analgesia and other pharmacological agents are on the raise. India is placed as the the leading example among a growing number of countries where there is simultaneous overuse and underuse of interventions. In addition to this, disrespect and abuse are also prevalent. A cross sectional study conducted among rural women of a northern state of India revealed that the frequency of any abusive behavior was 28.8%. The reported abuses were non-dignified care including verbal abuse and derogatory insults related to the woman’s sexual behavior (19.3%); physical abuse (13.4%); neglect or abandonment (8.5%); non-confidential care (5.6%); and feeling humiliation due to lack of cleanliness bordering on filth (4.9%) .  Statistically significant associations between abuse and provider type, facility type, and presence of complications during delivery.

Midwifery service initiative aims a for paradigm shift in maternity care providing a more positive birth experience to women. It will shift the focus of maternity care from an illness perspective wellness perspective and give women a more positive birth experience.