Executive Summary: The Lancet Series
The essential needs of childbearing women in all countries, and of their babies and families, are the focus of this thought-provoking series of international studies on midwifery. Many of those needs are still not being met, decades after they have been recognized. New solutions are required.
The [Lancet] Series provides a framework for quality maternal and newborn care (QMNC) that firmly places the needs of women and their newborn infants at its centre. It is based on a definition of midwifery that takes account of skills, attitudes and behaviors rather than specific professional roles. The findings of this Series support a shift from fragmented maternal and newborn care provision that is focussed on identification and treatment of pathology to a whole-system approach that provides skilled care for all.
The Lancet Series in a Nutshell
Findings from a new evidence-informed framework for maternal and newborn care (Renfrew et al., 2014).
Methods
Defined midwifery, critical synthesis of quantitative and qualitative evidence, case studies
Findings and conclusions
Could improve 50+ outcomes. Definition and framework for use in planning, monitoring, regulation, education.
Deployment of midwives in countries with high maternal mortality (Van Lerberghe et al., 2014).
Methods
Analysis of four country case studies with high maternal mortality
Findings and conclusions
Focus on coverage not enough. Must include quality, respectful care, reducing over-medicalization
The projected effect of scaling up midwifery (Homer et al., 2014).
Methods
Modeled impact of implementation of midwifery
Findings and conclusions
Universal provision of midwifery as defined in the series could reduce mortality by 80%+
Improvement of maternal and newborn health through midwifery (ten Hoope-Bender et al., 2014).
Methods
Summary, analysis, call to action
Findings and conclusions
Midwifery and midwives crucial to achievement of national and international goals and targets