Population-based needs assessment. Bringing public health to midwifery practice

Midwives are accustomed to individualizing their care of women on the basis of an assessment of each client's health status. By expanding their focus of care to encompass treatment of a population group, midwives and other providers can adopt a public health perspective through use of a community needs assessment. The first steps in diagnosing and treating the health problems of a group require the same rigorous and systematic examination of health indicators as does treatment of an individual. This article outlines the needs assessment process, identifies basic sources of information, and describes ways in which results can be presented.