Women's Public Health Policy in the 21st Century

Abstract

Midwives share a historic commitment with maternal and child public health (MCH) agencies to protect and improve perinatal health among vulnerable populations. Both professions are now beginning to broaden their responsibilities to include the comprehensive health needs of women. Because midwifery's unique woman-centered primary care practices reflect the goals and aims of the developing MCH women's health agenda, continued partnerships between midwives and the maternal and child public health community are imperative to promote the health of women and their families. To facilitate such collaboration, this article presents an overview of women's public health policy and articulates the unique contributions midwives can and do make to women's health care and public health policy.

Midwifery in Kansas

“…As the medical specialty of obstetrics became established, by the 1940s half of all deliveries occurred in hospitals and by 1969, the percentage of hospital births had increased to 99%. 9,14,21 As hospital births increased, family involvement declined. Family members were not present at the delivery and neonates were kept separate from their mothers in newborn nurseries.…”

“…With the post-World War II baby boom and increased medical efficiency, the time mothers and their well newborns spent at the hospital gradually decreased from two weeks to a few days. 9,11,22,23 From the 1950s to the 1970s, important factors encouraged many women to consider different options in the birthing process. These influential factors centered on the growing women's movement, the related increased interest in natural childbirth, and substantial research findings showing the negative effects of mother-infant separation following birth.…”

“…For the majority of women, it is not associated with a medical condition or disease. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Thus, for a well population, birth needs to take place in a context that humanizes care, is safe and comfortable, minimizes interruptions, and promotes the bonding, touch, and grooming that occur naturally between a mother and her infant. Such a context facilitates breastfeeding and has the potential to empower mothers and increase their confidence in their new role.…”

Women's Health Care Minimum Data Set: Pilot Test and Validation for Use in Clinical Practice

“…The nature and scope of the women's health care provided by midwives in the United States has expanded in recent years 1–4 . Historically, midwives have assumed a role as health care providers devoted to childbearing women and their infants, but the role and services provided have evolved over the years to include women's health care for a wider range of clients.…”

“…The nature and scope of the women's health care provided by midwives in the United States has expanded in recent years. [1][2][3][4] Historically, midwives have assumed a role as health care providers devoted to childbearing women and their infants, but the role and services provided have evolved over the years to include women's health care for a wider range of clients. During the health care reforms of the early 1990s, the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) developed a formal statement that defines midwives as primary care providers for women from adolescence to senescence and for newborns.…”