Midwives: Information on births, workforce, and midwifery education : report to congressional requesters
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Alternate Title(s):
- Information on births, workforce, and midwifery education: report to congressional requesters
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, April 2023
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Government Regulation Legislation, Medical Maternal Health Services Midwifery -- education Midwifery -- statistics & numerical data United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. Each year in the U.S., hundreds of individuals die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, and tens of thousands experience unexpected outcomes such as heart failure. In 2022, GAO reported that research showed more than half of rural counties lacked hospital-based services for pregnant people. GAO also reported on persistent racial and ethnic disparities in maternal death and severe maternal morbidity. Maternal health care providers, such as midwives, can play a critical role in improving maternal health outcomes. GAO was asked to examine midwifery education and access to midwifery care. This report describes information on midwife-attended births, the midwifery workforce, and any challenges to obtaining midwifery care; information on students of midwifery education programs, any midwifery educational challenges, and available federal financial support; and any challenges to measuring the quality of maternal health care, including midwifery care. GAO analyzed data from federal agencies and midwifery education and provider organizations, and reviewed research on midwifery care and education. GAO also interviewed a non-generalizable selection of 15 stakeholders knowledgeable about midwifery care and education, and eight researchers and officials from federal agencies about maternal care quality measures. The Department of Health and Human Services provided technical comments, which GAO incorporated as appropriate.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (iv, 54 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918627771806676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918627771806676