Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to acquire knowledge regarding the differences of training courses and educational institutions providing midwifery education through visualization by analyzing the related data from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).
Methods
Secondary analysis was performed using data from 109 countries out of 113 countries included in the ICM data available on their website. The following midwifery education-related items were plotted on the world map: (1) academic degree at the time of graduation, (2) midwifery education program, and (3) number of midwifery graduates per educational institution. For regional comparison, data were divided into six regions according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
Results
Regarding academic degree at the time of graduation, from among 87 countries, diplomas and bachelor's and master's degrees were confirmed for 47 (54.0%), 65 (74.7%), and 35 (40.2%) countries, respectively (multiple answers). Regarding the midwifery education program, from among 94 countries, 76 (80.9%) had a direct-entry education program and 57 countries (60.6%) had a post-nursing midwifery education program. For the number of midwifery graduates per educational institution, the data for 80 countries were divided into quartiles. The median of midwifery graduate per institution was 22.5.
Conclusion
An international comparison was made through visualization using ICM data, and this study identified a wide range of training course and educational institutions of midwifery education. Direct-entry programs were more adopted than post-nursing midwifery programs. In the countries in Africa, where maternal mortality ratio and total fertility rete were high, a diploma course was more likely to be provided, and the number of graduates per institution tended to be higher.
