Midwives should be involved in antenatal care

The European Midwives Association has called on the government to rectify the "anomalous" situation that prohibited midwives from being involved in the provision of antenatal care.

"The absence of midwives' involvement, an activity legislated for in article 42 of the Directive 2005/36/EU, is unacceptable," the association said yesterday.

If midwives were involved in antenatal care, the association believed childbearing women in Malta would experience a decrease in the unnecessary intervention in childbirth, with subsequent long-term public health benefits for both women and their families.

Quoting data on the outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in Malta, the association pointed to an induction rate of 36 per cent, a caesarean section rate of 33 per cent and a breastfeeding rate of 59 per cent.

"This data compares unfavourably with those of many other European member states, particularly those where midwives are able to fulfil their role," it said, in the aftermath of its annual meeting in Malta.

The meeting was attended by Social Solidarity Minister John Dalli who said proper midwifery care could set the gold standards for the safe, competent and humanistic care of women.

He spoke about the paradigm shift that was required in the maternity services in Malta to develop a sustainable model of care that was cost-effective and went beyond hospital-based care.

Mr Dalli noted that the development of primary care services required the full utilisation of midwives, alongside other healthcare professionals. He also recognised the prevailing "medicalisation" of childbirth in Malta.