<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...

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

Article Category: Review Article

Publié en ligne: 25 oct. 2018

Pages: 165 - 173

Reçu: 27 nov. 2017

Accepté: 21 févr. 2018

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

Mots clés
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.

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

Article Category: Review Article

Publié en ligne: 25 oct. 2018

Pages: 165 - 173

Reçu: 27 nov. 2017

Accepté: 21 févr. 2018

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

Mots clésmidwife, 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.

Mots clés
midwife, definition, scope of practice, regulation, roles of midwives