Maternal health and midwives are synonymous with each other, as these healthcare workers perform a crucial role in the family planning and community health sectors. Through providing responsive perinatal care, midwives help expectant mothers during their pregnancy, and into the first few weeks of their infant’s life.
However, there is often little understanding about the practicalities of this nursing-related career, and stereotypes abound about the profession being out-dated, as modern pregnancy procedures such as caesarean sections have become more widespread.
According to the World Health Organisation, nine-million more nurses and midwives are needed to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
To mark International Day of the Midwife, Health-e News found out what Joburgers know about the age-old profession.
