<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_fon-2018-0022_s_006_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c18b1Aa"><h3>Objective</h3><p>To review the definition and scope of the practice of midwives in Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia to find models and make suggestions for reforms in the midwifery policies of China.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2018-0022_s_007_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c18b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>This article reviewed the midwifery policies published by authorities, organizations, and governments of these countries and relevant literature in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang database.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2018-0022_s_008_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c18b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The definition and scope of practice of midwives in five representative countries and China were reviewed. The similarities and differences in midwifery policies among them show that most countries set standards based on the definition and scope of practice of midwives recommended by International Confederation of Midwives.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2018-0022_s_009_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c18b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The definition of midwives should include registration, midwifery education, and acceptance standards. The scope of practice of midwives should specify an autonomous environment, the objective of care, the period of care involved, prescribing rights, emergency treatment, and health counseling.</p></sec></abstract>

ObjectiveTo review the definition and scope of the practice of midwives in Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia to find models and make suggestions for reforms in the midwifery policies of China.MethodsThis article reviewed the midwifery policies published by authorities, organizations, and governments of these countries and relevant literature in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang database.ResultsThe definition and scope of practice of midwives in five representative countries and China were reviewed. The similarities and differences in midwifery policies among them show that most countries set standards based on the definition and scope of practice of midwives recommended by International Confederation of Midwives.ConclusionsThe definition of midwives should include registration, midwifery education, and acceptance standards. The scope of practice of midwives should specify an autonomous environment, the objective of care, the period of care involved, prescribing rights, emergency treatment, and health counseling.

A review of the definition and scope of practice of midwives in five representative countries

Frontiers of Nursing

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

ObjectiveTo review the definition and scope of the practice of midwives in Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia to find models...

Items\Countries	Sweden	Finland	The United Kingdom	Australia	The United States
Definition
Acceptance into education	√	√	√	√	√
Education	√	√	√	√	√
Registration	√	√	√	√	√
Scope of practice
Autonomous environment	√	√	√	√	√
The objective of care	Male, female, children, teenagers, adults	Male, family, society	Female, family	Male, female, infant, family, community	Male, female, new born, family
The period of care	Life cycle	Pregnancy, childbirth, child years	Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery	Pregnancy, postpartum period lasts 6 weeks	Adolescent– menopause
Prescription right	√	√	√	√	√(except for CPMs)
Health counselling	√	√	√	√	√
Others
Professional institution	√	√	√	√	√

A review of the definition and scope of practice of midwives in five representative countries

Article Category: Review Article

Published Online: Oct 25, 2018

Page range: 165 - 173

Received: Nov 27, 2017

Accepted: Feb 21, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fon-2018-0022

Keywords
midwife, definition, scope of practice, regulation, roles of midwives

© 2018 Jie Li et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Similarities and differences in the definition and scope of practice of midwives between the five representative countries. Note: CPMs: certified professional midwives.

A review of the definition and scope of practice of midwives in five representative countries

Article Category: Review Article

Published Online: Oct 25, 2018

Page range: 165 - 173

Received: Nov 27, 2017

Accepted: Feb 21, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fon-2018-0022

Keywordsmidwife, definition, scope of practice, regulation, roles of midwives

© 2018 Jie Li et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Similarities and differences in the definition and scope of practice of midwives between the five representative countries. Note: CPMs: certified professional midwives.

Keywords
midwife, definition, scope of practice, regulation, roles of midwives