• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the perceptions, importance, and performance of midwives' roles among midwives and nurses in Korea. Methods: A descriptive correlational design was employed. Data were collected from 164 nurses and 79 midwives from April 1 to June 25, 2021. Midwives enrolled in the Korean Midwifery Association and nurses and midwives from two hospitals each Daegu and Gyeonggi Province in Korea were invited to participate. The independent t-test, chi-square test, the Welch-Aspin test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for analysis. Results: The midwives' role perception score (3.47±1.46) was lower than that of nurses (3.95±0.85), and the midwives' role performance score (2.98±0.83) was also lower than that of nurses (3.34±0.89). Significant differences were observed between midwives and nurses in their perception and performance of roles related to prenatal management, childbirth management, management of psychological changes, postpartum management, and newborn care. Higher role perception and performance among midwives were linked to the management of psychological changes and women's health, indicating potential areas for future development. Conclusion: The study results suggest directions for developing new roles for midwives. It is necessary to find a way to expand the field of midwives in public health by benchmarking the roles of midwives in various countries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3011-3015
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• 2014

Background: Level of midwife knowledge is particularly important because of their role in the cervical cancer prevention programme. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the level of knowledge among health care students, midwives and women in the general population of Serbia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used with health care students of the medical shool, midwives in their practice, and women visiting a chosen general practitioner as respondents. Results: In comparison with the students and midwives, women had lower level of knowledge of causative agents of the cervical cancer, genital warts, HPV types, screening for cervical cancer as well as about the target population for vaccine and its role. Differences in the numbers of right answers of respondents were statistically significant (p<0.001). Four or more correct answers were obtained from 22.7% women, 35.3% from midwives and 83.8% from students. Conclusions: Midwives should improve their own level of knowledge related to preventive practice for cervical cancer, as well as their personal compliance with recommended practices, in order to be qualified and credible promoters of cervical cancer control among women in Serbia.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to investigate the operational status of the midwifery birthing centers (MBCs) and midwives' job status (Phase 1) and to develop midwifery practice guidelines (MPG) (Phase 2) in Korea. Methods: In the first phase, the subjects were 15 midwives who operated 11 of 14 MBCs that were opened as of August 2018. The questionnaire consisted of items to measure the operational status of the MBC and midwives' job status. In the second phase, the MPG was developed from literature review, interviews with five midwives opening their MBCs, surveys with 74 midwives, and a validity evaluation conducted by seven experts. Results: The distribution of operating MBCs was five in Gyunggi-do, two each in Seoul and Incheon, one each in Busan, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeju-do. The mean age of midwives was 54.3 and all were female. In 2017, a total of 762 births including 81 homebirths were performed by midwives. The job performance was highest in the order of neonatal care 3.81, childbirth care 3.56, and postpartal care 3.53, respectively. The MPG included seven areas of prenatal care, childbirth care, postpartal care, neonatal care, primary health care, law/ethics, and administration, with 56 tasks and 166 task elements. Conclusion: This study provides the valid basic data for the operational status of the MBC and the midwives' job status. The MPG describes the midwife's job and may be used as basic data for preparing policies for the development of midwifery practice in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to understand the meaning of women's experience of spontaneous delivery with midwives at midwifery clinics or home. Methods: van Kaam's Psychophenomenological method composed of a four-stage, 12-step format was used. In-depth interviews were carried out from January to July, 2011, with twelve women. Results: Through the data analysis, 403 significant statements, 172 elements, 48 subcategories, and 19 categories were extracted, and from the 19 categories, 8 themes were drawn. The eight themes were: "Conflict on whether a hospital or a midwifery clinic", "Choosing natural delivery with the assurance of her ability to delivery spontaneously and having trust in the midwives." "Being encouraged by a midwife and family members with one accord", "Experience of the spontaneous delivery process on body", "Comfortable delivery in spite of painful process", "Deeply impressed by the overwhelming joy of birth", "Satisfaction with spontaneous delivery", and "Deeper love among family members". Conclusion: Through this study, women's delivery experiences with midwives was of spontaneous delivery. Women's birth of self-confidence and trust between the midwives and the women to predict a spontaneous delivery is a powerful factor. Also, family support and midwives delicate care was identified as factors in spontaneous delivery.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2018

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the barriers influencing the sexual conversation. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 200 midwives were selected through convenience sampling method from private and public clinics in Mashhad, North East of Iran. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the study data. Results: The mean age of subjects was $39.58{\pm}8.12years$ with $13.49{\pm}7.59years$ of work experience. A number of cultural conditions act as an inhibitory force for the midwives to address sexual issues with menopausal women. Menopausal women visit a doctor at the acute stage when emotional and physical problems make sexual discussion difficult for the midwives (86.5%). Other related causes for not having proper sexual conversation were insufficient knowledge (51.4%), inadequate education provided via public media through health providers (83.5%), midwives or their patient's shame (51.5%), and attempt to get help from traditional healers, friends, relatives and supplicants instead of midwifery staff (78.5%). Also, we found that sexual workshops, communication workshops, and work experiences had a significant influence in changing the views of midwives. Conclusions: Cultural barriers prevent the patients and providers from communicating effectively with each other, thus highlighting the need for sexual and communication workshops for the health care providers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.222-230
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• 2020

Purpose: Midwives working in hospitals (MWH) have limited roles in managing and assisting births independently. To find ways to successfully integrate midwifery into care systems, exploring midwives' work-related perceptions might be the first step. The purpose of this study was to compare professionalism and job satisfaction between Korean midwives working in birthing centers (MWBC) and MWH. Methods: A descriptive comparative design was used, querying 19 MWBC and 53 MWH in Korea. Data were accrued from October to November 2017 using the Professionalism Inventory Scale and the Job Satisfaction Scale. Results: Age, marital status, monthly income, length of career as a midwife, and length of career in the current workplace were significantly different between MWBC and MWH. The level of professionalism in MWBC showed significant differences by position at the birthing center (t=16.19, p=.001). Professionalism and job satisfaction among MWH showed significant differences depending on perceived professional performance (F=9.95, p<.001 and F=11.04, p<.001, respectively). Levels of professionalism and job satisfaction were higher for MWBC than for MWH. Conclusion: Educational programs designed to enhance professionalism and expand the role of MWH are suggested. Also, policy changes that clearly define job roles and improvement of the legal system is required to enable MWH in Korea to effectively perform their midwifery work and be properly reimbursed.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-80
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• 2000

This study was described as midwife's role and obstacle of midwife's role expansion. Midwife as primary medical personal who practices for a mother and infant health care and promotion of mother infant interaction. As the trend of increasing natural childbirth, midwifery has to provide childbearing care those who want delivery in a midwifery center. This study conducted to survey for 44 midwives who work at the midwifery center. The results of the study as fellows. 1. Most of the midwives role was care of pregnancy, delivery, postpartum women and babies. Another role was conducted educational classes childbirth, breast feeding, contraception and sexual education. 2. Some midwives role perform breech, vaccum delivery, episiotomy and suture, pitocin induction and augmentation, ultrasonogram, giving medication, anesthesia, collecting specimen from Pap smear and vaginal discharge. Midwife perform these roles without medical law support. 3. Most of the obstacles of the midwife role was the medical law limitation. Midwives want revise medical law to perform simple treatment for childbearing women and babies. 4. Half of the midwives refer cases to medical doctor in case of complication of women and newborns. 5. Current frequency of home birth rate is slightly higher than before and me cases like to have delivery under water. Finally, midwife and midwifery have to prepare to meet childbearing woman, baby and family's need. For activation and expansion of midwife's role, every midwife has to be aware of medical law accurately and they must know what practice they can do and what practice they can not do.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate work performance and calling as determinants of job satisfaction among nurse midwives. Methods: The participants of this study were registered nurse midwives who had worked in the delivery room for more than 6 months. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews, postal mail, and mobile devices. Subjects completed self-report questionnaires from July to August 2017. The dataset was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, analysis of variance, the Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score for job satisfaction was 3.42±0.45. Among the sub-factors, income had the lowest score (2.67±0.72) and management of delivery had the highest score (3.81±0.66). Job satisfaction was significantly different according to marital status (t=2.25, p=.028), residential area (t=2.43, p=.016), and cause of job satisfaction (F=4.54, p=.012). Job satisfaction showed a significant positive correlation with work performance (r=.29, p<.001) and calling (r=.57, p<.001). The correlation between work performance and calling was also positive and statistically significant (r=.32, p<.001). Purpose and meaning (β=.48, p<.001) and marital status (β=-.15, p=.025) significantly influenced job satisfaction. The model developed in this study explained 45% of variation in job satisfaction. Conclusion: Nurse midwives' job satisfaction may be enhanced by entrusting them with professional roles and tasks. Above all, it is necessary to develop and provide programs that help nurse midwives connect their jobs with the meaning and purpose of their lives.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2002

The primary purpose of this study was to suggest midwife education programs which could be recognized and exchanged internationally by examining and analyzing both domestic and foreign midwife education programs. The secondary purpose of this study was to offer a plan to raise the level of national examination. Specific aims of this study were as follows: 1) to identify the international standard of the education and practices of midwives 2) to analyze both domestic and foreign midwife education programs 3) to offer a new curriculum for educating midwives 4) to suggest a prerequisite to raise the standards of the national examination 5) to suggest subjects for the national examination The results of this research were as follows: 1. The concept of midwife and midwifery practices recognized internationally by WHO and ICM(International Confederation of Midwives) was identified. In addition, Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice suggested by ACNM(American College of Nurse-Midwives) of the U.S.A. were examined. 2. Midwife education programs of the U.S.A., Sweden, Australia, and Japan were investigated and analyzed. In addition, the midwife education program stated in the public health related law of this country as well as curriculums of institutions for midwife education were also investigated and analyzed. 3. As for the midwife education system, both a graduate program for midwife education in the college of nursing sciences and a postgraduate professional midwife education program centered medical institutions were suggested. 4. A new curriculum that could promote more international exchanges and extend the role of midwives was suggested after studying both domestic and foreign midwife education programs. 5. A prerequisite to raise the level of national examination for midwives was suggested. In addition, subjects for the examination which could evaluate the applicant's comprehensive thinking ability were presented with its respective range and ratio. A midwife is a medical professional who has a nursing license and is licensed nationally as a midwife with an additional year of education. An effort to extend a midwife' role and to improve its service is imperative. The laws related midwives should be revised in regard to education, service, and the national examination to the level of developed countries so that international recognition can take place. In addition, midwife curriculum and its service should be evaluated periodically. A system must be established to renew midwife licences.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2003

Objective : Recent government policy for encouraging increased birth rate and its historical background were reviewed from the standpoint of a midwife. Suggestions were made for an effective policy to encourage more births. Possible roles of midwives regarding this new policy were also discussed. Methods : Literature reviews and internet research Results : Korea has been very successful in implementing its population control policy since the 1960s. It now considers a policy to encourage increased births due to falling birth rates. There are two opposite sides on this policy. One is positive and the other is negative opinion. The health of women and children should be given top priority in any policy -making or decisions, so that the quality of their lives can be improved. Midwives can be active members in the establishment and implementation of such policies. Conclusion : This policy to increase birth rates can be a good opportunity for midwives to publicize the fact that normal deliveries can be handled economically, efficiently, and safely by them. This will attract more women to employ midwives and use their clinics. If midwifery clinics in the form of a corporation or a consortium with other health care professionals can be established, they could be developed as One-Stop Women's Health Care Centers, where health needs of, not only pregnant women, but all women over the course of their lifetimes can be satisfied.