Determinants of Midwifery Workforce Disaster Preparedness and Its Impact on the Continuity of Maternal Care: A...

Natural disasters and climate-related emergencies increasingly disrupt maternal healthcare systems, placing growing demands on the midwifery workforce. While midwives play a critical role in maintaining continuity of care, evidence on how workforce preparedness influences service delivery remains limited. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on determinants of midwives' disaster preparedness and examine their association with continuity of maternal care.

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to March 2026. Eligible studies examined midwives or midwifery-led care in natural disasters or climate-related emergencies. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers, and methodological quality appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Due to substantial methodological and clinical heterogeneity across study designs, populations, and outcomes, a meta-analysis was not feasible and findings were synthesized narratively.

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, with the evidence base consisting predominantly of qualitative and cross-sectional studies, alongside one cohort study. Evidence was mainly derived from earthquake-affected settings. Preparedness was influenced by individual, professional, organizational, and psychosocial factors. Insufficient disaster-specific training, role ambiguity, and limited institutional preparedness were linked to reduced response capacity and disruptions across antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care.

The evidence suggests that midwifery workforce preparedness is an important determinant of continuity of maternal care during disasters and climate-related emergencies. Strengthening disaster education, integrating midwives into emergency planning, and enhancing organizational support are essential to improve health system resilience. Further longitudinal and intervention-based research across diverse disaster contexts is needed to strengthen the evidence base. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited number and heterogeneity of included studies.