Midwives Uniquely Suited to Deliver Woman-Centered Care and Decrease Stigma for Women With Substance Use Disorders

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Health
• Maternal Health
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Growing population of women diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs).
• Women with SUDs face unique and distinct stigma from various sources.
• Adverse health encounters during perinatal/postpartum periods exacerbate stigma for mothers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of midwives in addressing stigma experienced by women with SUDs.
• To highlight how midwives can provide woman-centered care to vulnerable populations.
• To improve health outcomes for women, mothers, and families affected by SUDs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of midwife experiences.
• Review of woman-centered care models.
• Interprofessional team collaboration strategies.

Main Results:

• Midwives are uniquely positioned to provide compassionate, non-judgmental care.
• Woman-centered care by midwives can mitigate stigma associated with SUDs.
• Integrated care models improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Midwives play a crucial role in reducing stigma for women with SUDs.
• Implementing woman-centered care improves health for mothers and families.
• Midwives are essential in improving global perinatal and maternal health for vulnerable populations.