The state of professionalisation of midwifery in Belgium: A discussion paper.

Adult; Belgium; Female; Humans; Maternal Health Services/organization & administration; Midwifery/education/trends; Nurse Midwives/education; Nurse's Role; Professional Autonomy; Professional Practice/trends; Professional Role; Professionalism; Health care; Maternity care; Midwifery; Midwives; Profession; Professionalisation

Abstract :

[en] AIM: To describe the state of the professionalisation of midwifery in Belgium, and to formulate recommendations for advancing the midwifery profession. METHODS: A descriptive overview of maternity care in Belgium and the professionalisation of midwifery through an analysis of relevant policy and academic texts, underpinned by Greenwood's sociological criteria for a profession: (1) own body of knowledge, (2) recognised authority, (3) broader community sanctions, (4) own code of ethics and (5) professional culture sustained by formal professional associations. From these insights, recommendations for advancing the midwifery profession in Belgium are formulated. FINDINGS: Current strengths of the professionalisation of midwifery in Belgium included unified midwifery education programmes, progress in midwifery research and overarching national documents for guiding midwifery education, practice and regulation. In contrast however challenges, such as the limited recognition of midwives' roles by its clientele, limitations of midwives' competencies and autonomy, lacking development of advanced roles in maternity care practice and a lack of unity of the organisation and its members, were also identified. Based on these, recommendations are made to strengthen Belgian midwifery. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for advancing the midwifery profession in Belgium includes in particular increasing public awareness of midwives' roles and competencies, implementing the full scope of midwifery practice and monitoring and advancing this practice. Thus, professional autonomy over both midwifery practice and working conditions should be enhanced. United midwifery organisations, together with women's groups, other maternity care professionals and policy-makers as equal partners are key to bring about changes in the Belgian maternity care landscape.

Disciplines :

Nursing Science

Author, co-author :

VERMEULEN, Joris ; University of Luxembourg

Luyben, Ans; Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK, Department of Health Services Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Buyl, Ronald; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.

Debonnet, Serena; Federal Public Service, Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium, Clinique Saint-Jean, Brussels, Belgium.

Castiaux, Geneviève; Paramedical Department Sainte-Elisabeth, University College of Namur-Liège-Luxembourg, Namur, Belgium.

Niset, Anne; Federal Public Service, Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium, Centre Hospitalier du Bois de l'Abbaye, Seraing, Belgium, Belgian Midwives Association, Antwerp, Belgium.

Muyldermans, Joke; Department Health Care, Knowledge Centre Brussels Integrated Care, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Brussels, Belgium, Midwifery Practice InTeam, Hoeilaart, Belgium, Flemish Professional Association of Midwives, Antwerp, Belgium, Care4Education, Boortmeerbeek, Belgium.

Fleming, Valerie; School of Nursing and Allied Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.

Fobelets, Maaike; Department Health Care, Knowledge Centre Brussels Integrated Care, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Brussels, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.

External co-authors :

yes

Language :

English

Title :

The state of professionalisation of midwifery in Belgium: A discussion paper.

Publication date :

February 2021

Journal title :

Women and Birth

eISSN :

1878-1799

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

7-13

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Commentary :

Available on ORBilu :

since 08 December 2024

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