Midwifery practice in Mongolia: Policy implications for accelerating care delivery transformation

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Global Health
• Nursing and Midwifery Studies

Background:

• Midwives are vital for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in low- and middle-income countries like Mongolia.
• Mongolia experiences a critical shortage of midwives, hindering effective maternal and perinatal care.
• Existing midwifery education and practice face significant challenges, necessitating policy interventions.

Observation:

• Key issues in Mongolian midwifery include current training, service delivery, role development potential, and postgraduate certificate content.
• The World Health Organization proposed 40 recommendations to professionalize midwifery, but implementation is stalled.
• Lack of senior nursing/midwifery leadership within Mongolia's Ministry of Health impedes progress.

Findings:

• Addressing the midwife shortage requires multilevel investment in educators and clinical practitioners.
• Enhancing midwifery care necessitates a strategic approach to training, role development, and leadership support.
• Substandard education and practice are significant barriers to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Implications:

• Policy recommendations are needed to accelerate improvements in midwifery care delivery in Mongolia.
• Strengthening national midwifery capacity is essential for achieving better health outcomes.
• Investing in midwifery is a critical step towards improving the quality of maternal and perinatal care in Mongolia.