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Introduction: Midwives in an Australian birth unit undertook a project to develop a resource for women and their support person. The aim of this study was to explore how the women, support persons and midwives viewed the introduction of this resource designed to guide and support women in their choice of support person. Methods: A quantitative survey study was used to explore how three participant groups viewed the introduction of a support person information resource. A hospital designed survey was developed for women, support people and midwives. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 26 and Braun and Clarke's guide for thematic analysis. Results: More than half (55%) of the midwives believed that the information resource presented influenced women's choice of support people during labor. Almost threequarters (72%) of the women did not change their choice of number of support people that they wanted during their labor. The majority (83%) of women would recommend the support person brochure to other women. The majority (83%) of support people stayed the entire duration of labor. Four themes were generated from open-ended questions: value of the information sheet, knowing how to be a support person, connecting midwives with being woman-centered, and choosing the support person. Conclusions: The availability of an information resource was of benefit for women, support people and midwives, contributing to women feeling more informed in choosing their support person. Midwives felt they had evidence to support conversations with women, contributing to the feeling of being woman-centered. Support people had increased confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The profession of a midwife, despite its long tradition in Poland, is still not widely known in the society. Both in terms of the competencies and roles, it is often confused with other medical professions such as nurses or gynecologists. In this study, we assessed the knowledge of women in Poland on the profession of a midwife. The aim of the research project was to obtain detailed data on the knowledge of women regarding the specific professional competencies of midwives. METHODS The study used the method of a cross-sectional survey. A survey of 1134 adult Polish women was conducted. A 20-item questionnaire was developed with fourteen of the questions being based on the midwife’s professional competencies. The study was conducted in 2019 and the questionnaire was distributed through various social groups for Polish women. RESULTS Knowledge about the professional competencies of midwives increases proportionally to the level of the education of the respondents, their age and the scope of cooperation with midwives. The most well-known forms of midwifery were those related to lactation education (78.7%) and puerperal care (78.9%). The lowest rates, among other results, were prescribing drugs (23.1%) and collecting samples for cervical cytology (24.4%). CONCLUSIONS The profession of a midwife in Poland is insufficiently popularized. Competencies shared with doctors require more dissemination. It is worth paying particular attention to the promotion of the profession in younger age groups, so that women can use their knowledge at subsequent stages of their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION There have been significant changes in the work environment of midwives, such as the establishment of prenatal medical centers and shared wards for obstetrics and other departments. These changes in the work environment pose a psychological burden on midwives. Under these circumstances, the concept of work engagement is essential for overcoming the ensuing difficulties. However, no studies have yet investigated midwives working in prenatal medical centers in Japan. This study examined the factors affecting work engagement among midwives working in prenatal medical centers in Japan. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 498 midwives working at prenatal medical centers nationwide was conducted. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal- Wallis test, correlation analysis using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis as linear regression. RESULTS The median of work engagement score was 3.00 (IQR: 2.40–3.60). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that professional identity (β=0.494, p<0.001), resilience (β=0.243, p<0.001), presence of in-hospital midwifery in the facility (β=0.138, p<0.011), and age (β=0.085, p=0.021) were significant. The adjusted R2 value was 0.490 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results offer management insights into improving work engagement among midwives working in prenatal medical centers in Japan. The proposed measures include hospital/ward administrators establishing the professional identity of midwives and providing them with opportunities to demonstrate their expertise, for instance, within in-hospital midwifery systems at perinatal medical centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Normal birth has significant benefits for mothers and infants. However, the advancement of technology has led to increased medicalization of childbirth. Midwives play a pivotal role in promoting normal birth, and positive outcomes are seen in births led by a midwife. The purpose of the study is to gain a deeper understanding of midwives' experiences of facilitating normal birth in midwifery-led units. METHODS The study has a qualitative design. It was conducted in 2022 and included semi-structured interviews with seven midwives throughout Norway. They were all currently working, or had previously worked, in a midwifery-led unit. The data material was analyzed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS The data analysis resulted in three result categories. The first category concerned the importance of relationships, continuity and a safe atmosphere. The second concerned being a midwife in the hand, in the heart, and in the mind. The third related to having confidence in the physiological process of childbirth, midwifery autonomy, and a common ideology. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights several elements that may help to promote normal birth in midwifery units. Relationships, midwifery skills, confidence in normal birth and a supportive collegial environment that fosters midwife autonomy, are prominent factors. These elements were viewed by the midwives as key to their ability to promote normal birth in a midwifery-led unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Alcohol consumption has increased in recent years, including among women of childbearing age. A woman's alcohol intake during pregnancy is linked to complications and injuries in the newborn, and the risk of the child being harmed by the mother's alcohol use increases in proportion to the amount of alcohol she consumes. This meta-ethnography aims to explore midwives' and other healthcare providers' experiences of screening pregnant women for alcohol use in pregnancy and counselling them on the subject. METHODS A systematic literature search in CINAHL, Maternity & Infant Care, MEDLINE, and Scopus was conducted in August 2021 and updated in January 2023. The CASP checklist was used to assess the included articles and meta-ethnography was used to synthesize the data. RESULTS Fourteen qualitative studies were included. In the synthesis, we use the metaphor of Pandora's box to deepen our understanding of the topic. We found that some healthcare providers tiptoe around the box, not wanting to face the consequences and responsibilities of asking women about their alcohol use. Others refuse or are reluctant to open the box because they lack knowledge about screening and counselling. Some eventually open the box, understanding the importance of establishing a trusting relationship to address alcohol use and seeing the need for knowledge and screening tools. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare education has the important task of ensuring that healthcare personnel have sufficient evidence-based knowledge about alcohol use in pregnancy. In the future, a health-promoting, tailored approach offering women in pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy sufficient evidence-based information should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The centralization of health services appears to be prevalent both in and outside Europe. As the distance to the nearest birth institution increases, so does the risk of unplanned births outside of an institution. A primary factor to prevent this is having a skilled birth attendant present. This study examines midwives' experiences of working in the accompaniment services in Norway. METHODS This was a qualitative interview study of 12 midwives working in the accompaniment services in Norway. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in January 2020. Systematic text condensation was used to analyze the data. RESULTS The analysis identified four main themes. The midwives felt that accompaniment service work was a heavy responsibility, but it was professionally fulfilling. They felt that being on call was a lifestyle, and they were motivated by their relationships with the pregnant women. Presenting themselves as confident midwives helped the women to feel reassured. The midwives considered the cooperation within the health service to be key to good transport midwifery. CONCLUSIONS The midwives who worked in the accompaniment services felt that their responsibility for caring for women in labor was challenging, but meaningful. Their professional knowledge was important for identifying the risk of complications and handling difficult situations. Despite carrying a heavy workload, they continued to work in the accompaniment services to ensure that women who had to travel long distances to birth institutions received appropriate help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Appropriate use of interventions in maternity care is a worldwide issue. Midwifery-led models of care are associated with more efficient use of resources, fewer medical interventions, and improved outcomes. However, the use of interventions varies considerably between midwives. The aim of this study was to explore how knowledge and skills influence clinical decision-making of midwives on the appropriate use of childbirth interventions. METHODS A qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 20 primary care midwives was performed in June 2019. Participants' clinical experience varied in the use of interventions. The interviews combined a narrative approach with a semi-structured question route. Data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. RESULTS 'Knowledge', 'Critical thinking skills', and 'Communication skills' influenced midwives' clinical decision-making towards childbirth interventions. Midwives obtained their knowledge through the formal education program and extended their knowledge by reflecting on experiences and evidence. Midwives with a low use of interventions seem to have a higher level of reflective skills, including reflection-in-action. These midwives used a more balanced communication style with instrumental and affective communication skills in interaction with women, and have more skills to engage in discussions during collaboration with other professionals, and thus personalizing their care. CONCLUSIONS Midwives with a low use of interventions seemed to have the knowledge and skills of a reflective practitioner, leading to more personalized care compared to standardized care as defined in protocols. Learning through reflectivity, critical thinking skills, and instrumental and affective communication skills, need to be stimulated and trained to pursue appropriate, personalized use of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Pudendal nerve block (PNB) is an effective analgesic during the second stage of labor and for suturing. With the introduction of epidural and spinal analgesia, PNB use decreased considerably. Most midwives receive some teaching on PNB during their midwifery education. The aim of this study was to examine the use of PNB by midwives in Norway. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study, in January 2020, using an electronic questionnaire which was distributed to approximately 1500 midwives. RESULTS A total of 527 midwives responded to the questionnaire (35%). Less than half (44.6%) of the midwives used PNB, of whom only half (123/235) used it frequently (at least once a month). The use of PNB was most common at specialized obstetric units with ≥1500 births per year. Midwives who reported good theoretical knowledge and practical skills of PNB used it significantly more often than midwives not reporting these (p<0.001). Reasons for not using PNB were: the lack of practice and experience (72.6%), and never having been taught (42.8%). Midwives reported needing training (83%) and clinical support to start using PNB (43%). CONCLUSIONS Few midwives use PNB regularly. To increase the use of PNB, midwifery education needs to include both theoretical and practical skills teaching. Midwives with insufficient knowledge and skills require the same teaching and training. In the clinical area, midwives require clinical support and supervision to practice and gain experience. Women are not offered PNB as long as midwives are not confident in providing this method of pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The profession of midwifery is seen as a genuinely individual-centric catalyst transforming compassion to care. Due to this, compassionate care should be the basis of midwives' care, especially for those who care for women and children. This research investigated the compassion levels of midwives to determine the factors affecting them. METHODS This descriptive research was conducted between 10 February and 29 May 2020, with 119 midwives working in a training and research hospital in Istanbul. The data were collected using the 'Compassion Scale' and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression model. RESULTS The total mean score on the compassion scale of midwives participating in the study was found to be 71.46 ± 9.60. Sociodemographic data and vocational belongings of participants were compared with the mean scores of the compassion scale subdimensions. It was determined that as the age of the midwives increased, they showed more kindness and awareness of compassion (p<0.021, p<0.023, respectively). It has been determined that as the education level of midwives decreases, their compassion level also decreases and they become more insensitive (p<0.044). It was found that being married increased the kindness (p<0.023) and common humanity characteristics (p<0.032) that affect compassion. It was found that the levels of kindness (p<0.020) and awareness (p<0.048) increased for those who had children, and compassion was associated with having a child. In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between the professional commitment and kindness of the midwives participating in the study (p<0.034). It was found that midwives' knowledge of rules related to professional ethics increased their compassion scale scores by 1.2. CONCLUSIONS Midwifery is a profession with a high sense of spirituality. However, professional belonging, love of the profession and professional development positively affect midwives' levels of compassion. Improving midwives' feelings of belonging and their professional development will also contribute to the quality of maternal and infant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternity services in Ireland have historically been predominantly hospital-based and obstetric-led. Although evidence suggests midwifery-led care is safe and effective, its presence in Ireland continues to be limited in practice. An increase in the available models of maternity care for women has been recommended by the Department of Health in Ireland to promote a woman-centered approach. The latest requirement for midwifery students to have a continuity of care experience within their curriculum offers educators the opportunity to facilitate differing models of care prior to qualification as a registrant, providing an experience to explore midwifery philosophy in practice. The use of a caseloading model, adopted by a university in the East of Ireland in the final year of the program may be a successful way for students to gain midwifery skills as well as offering midwifery students the exposure to another model of care. Such experiences may also enhance their ability to drive and shape midwifery-led services in the future and also build midwifery workforce capacity in continuity of care models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The use of non-pharmacological pain relief methods and pain assessment scales during labor has received limited research attention. This study aimed to describe women's perceptions of the pain assessment and non-pharmacological pain relief methods used during labor. METHODS A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted. A convenience sample of women (n=204) from one Finnish maternity ward participated in the study. Women who had given birth were asked to respond to a validated questionnaire between November 2018 and February 2019. The statistical significance of observed differences was analyzed using the chi-squared test. RESULTS Less than half (46%) of the women who gave birth at the hospital were asked to assess the intensity of their pain on a pain assessment scale. The most commonly used non-pharmacological pain relief methods were encouragement (92%), the presence of a midwife (82%), and proper breathing technique that was taught by a midwife (81%). Aqua blisters (3%), reflexology (e.g. zone magnets, 5%), and music (9%) were the least commonly used non-pharmacological methods during labor. The participants' experiences of fear and pain were significantly associated with the implementation of pain assessment. CONCLUSIONS Women's pain was rarely evaluated by using a certain pain assessment scale. In addition, non-pharmacological pain relief methods were inadequately used during labor. More specifically, methods that required midwives' own personal contributions were rarely offered to the women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The first medical examination of the newborn after birth plays an essential role in identifying congenital malformations and life-threatening conditions. Currently, no Europe-wide guidelines or standards for performing the first neonatal examination exist. It is unclear which professional group carries out this examination in different European countries. Additionally, there are no requirements for an examination accepted throughout Europe. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify the status quo of medical guidelines and legal requirements in place as well as to determine which profession carries out the first neonatal examination in European countries., Methods: By means of a structured questionnaire, one expert survey at two international medical specialist conferences in Europe in 2019 were carried out. Participants were asked whether medical guidelines or legal requirements exist in their home country and which medical profession is recommended to perform the neonatal examination. Survey participants were delegates of national neonatal or perinatal societies. To verify statements, further neonatal experts at European level were contacted., Results: A total of 51 participants from 35 countries in Europe were interviewed. Overall, 28 of 35 participating countries (80%) have published medical guidelines and 24 (69%) have legal requirements in place for the first neonatal examination. A wide range of professional groups (midwives, neonatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians, general practitioners, nurse practitioners and advanced neonatal nurse practitioners) performs the first neonatal exam. In 27 (77%) countries, midwives are the main group of examiners., Conclusions: Currently a European patchwork of different medical guidelines and legal requirements in regard to the first medical examination of the newborn after birth exists. In addition, a variety of professional groups perform the first neonatal examination. There is great potential for standardization and an expert committee could establish common European guidelines in order to ensure the best possible neonatal care throughout Europe., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2024 Plail L. et al.)

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to determine the effect of depression levels in midwives on burnout and job satisfaction. METHODS The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 322 midwives working in a province located in the eastern region of Turkey. Data were collected by using the Personal Information Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MJSQ) Short Form. RESULTS The rate of midwives experiencing depression was found to be 9.6%. The mean score of MJSQ was 64.59±13.29, while the mean scores for the sub-dimensions of MBI were: emotional burnout 18.57±6.65, decrease in sense of personal accomplishment 21.65±3.93, and depersonalization 6.25±3.86. It was found that midwives who did not experience depression (90.4%) had a higher level of job satisfaction and a higher sense of personal accomplishment (p<0.05). On the other hand, midwives experiencing depression (9.6%) had higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. It was found that there was a negative weak relationship between BDI and job satisfaction and personal accomplishment, and a positive weak relationship between BDI and emotional exhaustion (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It was determined that midwives with depression have lower levels of job satisfaction and personal success, and experience emotional exhaustion more frequently. In addition, it was observed that as the level of depression decreased, job satisfaction and personal success increased significantly, whereas emotional exhaustion decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Midwives experiencing traumatic births are emotionally affected by this process, lose their self-confidence, and may intend to leave the profession. This study aims to carry out a meta-synthesis of current qualitative research exploring the experiences of midwives witnessing traumatic births. METHODS The meta-synthesis consisted of 18 full-text studies in English, obtained from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases. The results of the studies were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. The study includes qualitative, mixedmethod, and full-text studies published between 2000 and 2020 that explored the experiences of midwives and obstetric nurses witnessing birth trauma. RESULTS The thematic analysis identified seven themes: post-traumatic feelings, posttraumatic stress symptoms, the impact of trauma on professional values, social support, learning from experience, legal process, and reflection of emotions of women experiencing traumatic birth on the midwife. CONCLUSIONS Midwives who witnessed traumatic birth were mostly emotionally affected. They lost their self-confidence and intended to leave their profession. They emphasized the importance of peer support through which they could share their experiences after trauma. Psychological education should be provided to midwives who witness the trauma by specialists, and midwives should be strengthened against the effects of trauma in terms of both the institutional policies where the birth takes place and midwifery-specific legal policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Contraception plays a pivotal role in most women's lives, from teenage years to the menopause. Contraception and sexual wellbeing are closely related. Ideally, women should be able to access contraception and discuss issues concerning their sexual life during a contraceptive counselling session. Previously, only doctors conducted contraceptive consultations. Increasingly, other healthcare workers are providing contraceptive care. The aim of this study is to explore women's experiences and opinions related to contraceptive counselling. METHODS An electronic questionnaire was distributed in 2017-2018. The texts of 308 women's written responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using systematic text-condensation. RESULTS The analysis resulted in four themes: 1) Women-centered care, 2) Side-effects of hormonal contraceptives, 3) Non-hormonal methods and male involvement, and 4) Counsellors' professional background. Women wished for a consultation that would lead to the best choice of contraception for them, taking into account their medical history, personal preference and living circumstances. Side-effects of hormonal products were under-communicated, as were non-hormonal methods. Respondents had contradicting opinions about midwives as contraceptive counsellors and were unfamiliar with them in this role. CONCLUSIONS The quality of contraceptive counselling in Norway needs to be improved. Women require individualized follow-up, sufficient information and a choice of methods to find the most suitable alternative for them. A good relationship with a health provider they trust could improve contraceptive consultation. Midwives' knowledge and competence in this area need to be made more widely known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There have been significant changes in the work environment of midwives, such as the establishment of prenatal medical centers and shared wards for obstetrics and other departments. These changes in the work environment pose a psychological burden on midwives. Under these circumstances, the concept of work engagement is essential for overcoming the ensuing difficulties. However, no studies have yet investigated midwives working in prenatal medical centers in Japan. This study examined the factors affecting work engagement among midwives working in prenatal medical centers in Japan., Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 498 midwives working at prenatal medical centers nationwide was conducted. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test, correlation analysis using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis as linear regression., Results: The median of work engagement score was 3.00 (IQR: 2.40-3.60). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that professional identity (β=0.494, p<0.001), resilience (β=0.243, p<0.001), presence of in-hospital midwifery in the facility (β=0.138, p<0.011), and age (β=0.085, p=0.021) were significant. The adjusted R 2 value was 0.490 (p<0.001)., Conclusions: These results offer management insights into improving work engagement among midwives working in prenatal medical centers in Japan. The proposed measures include hospital/ward administrators establishing the professional identity of midwives and providing them with opportunities to demonstrate their expertise, for instance, within in-hospital midwifery systems at perinatal medical centers., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2024 Asaka Y. and Fukuya Y.)

Introduction: The use of non-pharmacological pain relief methods and pain assessment scales during labor has received limited research attention. This study aimed to describe women's perceptions of the pain assessment and non-pharmacological pain relief methods used during labor., Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted. A convenience sample of women (n=204) from one Finnish maternity ward participated in the study. Women who had given birth were asked to respond to a validated questionnaire between November 2018 and February 2019. The statistical significance of observed differences was analyzed using the chi-squared test., Results: Less than half (46%) of the women who gave birth at the hospital were asked to assess the intensity of their pain on a pain assessment scale. The most commonly used non-pharmacological pain relief methods were encouragement (92%), the presence of a midwife (82%), and proper breathing technique that was taught by a midwife (81%). Aqua blisters (3%), reflexology (e.g. zone magnets, 5%), and music (9%) were the least commonly used non-pharmacological methods during labor. The participants' experiences of fear and pain were significantly associated with the implementation of pain assessment., Conclusions: Women's pain was rarely evaluated by using a certain pain assessment scale. In addition, non-pharmacological pain relief methods were inadequately used during labor. More specifically, methods that required midwives' own personal contributions were rarely offered to the women., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2022 Rantala A. et al.)

Introduction: Contraception plays a pivotal role in most women's lives, from teenage years to the menopause. Contraception and sexual wellbeing are closely related. Ideally, women should be able to access contraception and discuss issues concerning their sexual life during a contraceptive counselling session. Previously, only doctors conducted contraceptive consultations. Increasingly, other healthcare workers are providing contraceptive care. The aim of this study is to explore women's experiences and opinions related to contraceptive counselling., Methods: An electronic questionnaire was distributed in 2017-2018. The texts of 308 women's written responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using systematic text-condensation., Results: The analysis resulted in four themes: 1) Women-centered care, 2) Side-effects of hormonal contraceptives, 3) Non-hormonal methods and male involvement, and 4) Counsellors' professional background. Women wished for a consultation that would lead to the best choice of contraception for them, taking into account their medical history, personal preference and living circumstances. Side-effects of hormonal products were under-communicated, as were non-hormonal methods. Respondents had contradicting opinions about midwives as contraceptive counsellors and were unfamiliar with them in this role., Conclusions: The quality of contraceptive counselling in Norway needs to be improved. Women require individualized follow-up, sufficient information and a choice of methods to find the most suitable alternative for them. A good relationship with a health provider they trust could improve contraceptive consultation. Midwives' knowledge and competence in this area need to be made more widely known., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2021 Lukasse M. et al.)

Introduction: Midwives are exposed to emotional strain, which could affect their overall health. Lack of emotional well-being could be a reason for workforce attrition. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress among Swedish midwives in relation to background variables., Methods: A random sample of 1000 midwives were asked to participate and complete a questionnaire. Participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and Quality of Life inventories together with demographic and work-related data., Results: In all, 470 midwives responded to the questionnaire (48%). The prevalence of moderate/severe/very severe symptoms of depressive symptoms was 12%, anxiety 8.6%, and stress 7.2%. Midwives aged <40 years and those with <10 years work experience reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress. The factors most strongly associated with symptoms of depression were personal burnout (AOR=12.26), client burnout (AOR=1.95) and quality of life (AOR=0.26) The factors most strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety were work burnout (AOR=2.53) and personal burnout (AOR=5.61). The factors most strongly associated with stress were personal burnout (AOR=3.90) and work burnout (AOR=3.58) and high quality of life (AOR=0.34)., Conclusions: Swedish midwives experience symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Symptoms of burnout were associated with all aspects of mental health, while high quality of life was protective against these symptoms. These findings are relevant to consider in the work environment for Swedish midwives in order to reduce attrition rates., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2020 Båtsman A. et al.)

Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported.

Introduction: There is compelling evidence that when a woman sees the same midwife there are better outcomes. Yet in Australia, access to midwifery continuity of care remains limited. There are a number of reasons for this but one barrier appears to be a lack of public understanding regarding the role of the midwife. This study undertook an e-survey to explore Australian public perceptions of the role of the midwife., Methods: A public opinion sample e-survey, using an exploratory design, a Likert scale and open-ended questions, was distributed through social media over six weeks. The survey was open to Australian residents and was completed by 1657 participants. Of these, 96.9% identified as female and 82.1% of participants had children., Results: Nearly half of the participants believed that a woman must see a doctor during pregnancy and after birth, compared to 21.9% during birth. Many participants described midwives as caring and supportive but there was a lack of understanding about their level of skill and expertise. A dominant theme was the alignment of medical care with safety and the perception that medical practitioners reduce risk. These misperceptions may impact on women making an informed choice regarding midwifery model of care in Australia., Conclusions: There is an underlying public narrative whereby the public primarily associate midwives with birth and perceive them as assistants rather than lead care providers. The study findings informed a public awareness campaign in South Australia conducted to educate the public's understanding of the role of the midwife., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2019 McKellar L.)

Introduction: Access to contraceptive consultations and the content of these consultations are important to achieve a safe and satisfying sexual life and successful reproduction when desired. The aim of this study was to investigate Norwegian women's experiences of and opinions on contraceptive consultations., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a questionnaire distributed via Facebook with 1917 respondents of age ≥15 years. Descriptive analyses were used., Results: Few women found it hard to access consultations (5%). Across all age groups, side effects were the most common topic that women (69%) wanted more information about. Concern about side effects was also the most frequent reason given (27%) for not using hormonal contraceptives. Among women aged 25-34 years, 54% wanted to know more about different available contraceptives. The majority of women deemed issues of sexual wellbeing important to address during a contraceptive consultation. Few women reported that these topics had been raised. Just under half of the women found it appropriate to see a midwife for contraceptive/sexual health consultations. Only one-third knew that midwives can prescribe and administer long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)., Conclusions: Women want contraceptive consultations to include more information on side effects and available hormonal contraceptives. Women want to be asked about their sexual health and wellbeing during contraceptive consultations. Women should be made aware that midwives can provide contraceptive services including LARCs., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2019 Forsberg K.E.)