UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021 Report

Published on: 05/05/2021

The world is currently facing an acute shortage of 900,000 midwives, which represents a third of the required global midwifery workforce. The COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated these problems, with the health needs of women and newborns being overshadowed, midwifery services being disrupted and midwives being deployed to other health services.

State of the World's Midwifery

The State of the World's Midwifery 2021

Number of pages: 80

Publication date: 05 May 2021

Author: UNFPA, WHO, ICM

The State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 builds on previous reports in the SoWMy series and represents an unprecedented effort to document the whole world’s Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (SRMNAH) workforce, with a particular focus on midwives. It calls for urgent investment in midwives to enable them to fulfil their potential to contribute towards UHC and the SDG agenda.

Resources

The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Fast facts

Resource date: May 2021

Author: UNFPA, WHO, ICM

An executive summary of the key points from the detailed analyses conducted for the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021, including an infographic which presents the headline results and conclusions.

Resources

State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Executive summary

Resource date: May 2021

Author: UNFPA, WHO, ICM

A 4-page summary of the key points from the detailed analyses conducted for the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021. It sets out the scale of the workforce challenges and proposes 4 areas in which bold investments in midwives and midwifery are needed.

News

Global shortage of 900,000 midwives threatens women’s lives and health, new report shows

Midwives with a mobile team in Marib, Yemen, provide life-saving services in a displacement camp. © UNFPA Yemen
  • 04 May 2021
1

Resources

How to use the SoWMy 2021 country profile

Resource date: May 2021

Author: UNFPA, WHO, ICM

A detailed explanation of the data in the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 country profile and the sources and definitions used to produce it. The data and analysis are explained, and advice is provided on how to interpret and use the country profiles.

Resources

The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Webappendices

Resource date: May 2021

Author: UNFPA, WHO, ICM

Technical details of the methods used to produce the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 analyses, including: definitions of key terms, data collection methods, analysis and modelling methods, assumptions made to compensate for missing data, and countries included in the main analyses.

Resources

The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Supplements

Resource date: May 2021

Author: UNFPA, WHO, ICM

Two papers about groups at risk of being “left behind” in terms of access to Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (SRMNAH) workers: (i) adolescents and (ii) women, newborns and adolescents in humanitarian and fragile settings. The papers describe the health workforce challenges and gives examples of initiatives to improve access for these groups.

News

Studies show severe toll of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health, rights around the world

School closures have put young people at risk, researchers say. Pictured, a UNFPA-supported boarding school in Kenya, photographed in November 2020. © UNFPA ESARO
  • 21 April 2021
1

News

Serbian women with disabilities shatter taboos, transform health services amid pandemic

Mónika Zsúnyi and other advocates are making their local communities and health systems more inclusive. Image courtesy of Mónika Zsúnyi
  • 12 April 2021
1

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