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Application of the Midwifery Professional Competency Survey

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 449 - 462, 30.04.2025

Emel Güden

Abstract

Objective: Competency in midwifery, defined as a combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, is essential for the provision of quality healthcare services. The aim of this study is to evaluate midwives' self-assessment of their professional competencies and to analyze the outcomes within this framework.Methods:The study employed a cross-sectional research design, focusing on the self-assessment of professional competencies among midwives working in Türkiye. A total of 548 midwives participated, providing self-assessments through a questionnaire based on the standards of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Data were collected online between July 2020 and June 2021. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 26, and non-parametric tests were applied where necessary.Results:Midwives stated that they found their overall professional competencies, particularly in the areas of postpartum care and counseling, to be at a high level. They reported feeling competent in areas such as pregnancy monitoring, public health activities, and family planning, while indicating lower competence in managing high-risk births, traumatic deliveries, and participation in professional development activities. Younger and less experienced midwives were found to have generally lower competence scores inspecific areas, such as labor management and pelvic examinations.Conclusion:The study highlights the need for enhanced training and development opportunities for midwives in Türkiye, particularly in high-risk birth management and professional development

Keywords

Midwife Midwifery Competency

References

  • Aksu, S. (2017). Forensic midwifery. HSP, 4(3), 277–284. https://doi.org/10.17681/Hsp.306089Arslan, Ş. F., Yıldız, A., & Şen, M. M. (2019). The perceptions of midwifery students about program competency. SDÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 10(1).
  • Biçer, G., & Düztepe, Ş. (2003). Yetkinlikler ve yetkinliklerin işletmeler açısından önemi (Competencies and their importance for organizations). JAST,1(2), 13–20. https://jast.hho.msu.edu.tr/index.php/JAST/article/view/69
  • Butler, M. M., Fraser, D. M., & Murphy, R. J. L. (2008). What are the essential competencies required of a midwife at the point of registration? Midwifery, 24(3), 260–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2006.10.010
  • Çiçek, Ö. E. (2009). Evaluation of final-year midwifery students on their roles and competencies according to the duties of midwives (Master’s thesis). https://avesis.deu.edu.tr/yonetilen-tez/b70f8b69-dfbc-41e7-a87f-c81ce388a434/ebelik-son-sinif-ogrencilerinin-ebelerin-gorev-tanimlari-ve-yeterlilik-alanlarina-gore-kendilerini-degerlendirmeleri
  • David, M. C., & McClelland, D. C. (1973). Testing for competence rather than for intelligence. Am Psychol, 28(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0034092
  • Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A. G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysisprogram for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146
  • Firoozehchian, F., Zareiyan, A., Geranmayeh, M., & Behboodi Moghadam, Z. (2022). Domains of competence in midwifery students: A basis for developing a competence assessment tool for Iranian undergraduate midwifery students. BMC Med Educ, 22(1), 704. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03759-z
  • Goshu, M., Godefay, H., Bihonegn, F., Ayalew, F., Haileselassie, D., Kebede, A., Temam, G., & Gidey, G. (2018). Assessing the competence of midwives to provide care during labor, childbirth, and the immediate postpartum period –A cross-sectional study in Tigray region, Ethiopia. PLOS ONE, 13(10), e0206414. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206414
  • Hannah, M. E., Hannah, W. J., Hewson, S. A., Hodnett, E. D., Saigal, S., & Willan, A. R. (2000). Planned caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for breech presentation at term: A randomised multicentre trial. The Lancet, 356(9239), 1375–1383. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02840-3
  • International Confederation of Midwives. (2018). Essential competencies for midwifery practice 2018 (Update). https://www.internationalmidwives.org/assets/files/general-files
  • Khakbazan, Z., Ebadi, A., Geranmayeh, M., & Momenimovahed, Z. (2019). Midwifery professionalism: An integrative review. J Clin Diagn Res, 13(3), LE01–LE08. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2019/38209.12654
  • Le, T. T., Truong, A. T., Vu, T. V., et al. (2024). Vietnam national competency standards for midwifery: A Delphi study. F1000Research, 12, 981. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.138350.2
  • Ministry of Health. (2014). Regulation on the job descriptions of healthcare professionals and other professionals working in healthcare services. https://dosyaism.saglik.gov.tr/eklenti/12541,20140522-29007-sag-meslek-mensuplari-ile-sag-hizde-cal-diger-meslek-mensuplarinin-is-ve-gorev-tanimlarina-dair-yonetmelikpdf.pdf
  • Nove, A., Hoope-Bender, P. T., Moyo, N. T., & Bokosi, M. (2018). The Midwifery services framework: What is it, and why is it needed? Midwifery,57, 54–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.11.003
  • Renfrew, M. J., McFadden, A., Bastos, M. H., Campbell, J., Channon, A. A., Cheung, N. F., ... & Declercq, E. (2014). Midwifery and quality care: Findings from a new evidence-informed framework for maternal and newborn care. The Lancet, 384(9948), 1129–1145. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60789-3
  • Sökmen, Y. (2018). Professional attitudes of midwives and influencing factors (Unpublished master's thesis). Adnan Menderes University, Institute of Health Sciences, Midwifery Master's Program, Aydın, Türkiye
  • Stewart, S., Sidebotham, M., & Davis, D. (2012). The virtual international day of the midwife: Social networking for continuing professional development. Nurse Educ Pract,12(5), 248–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2012.06.004
  • Ten Hoope-Bender, P., de Bernis, L., Campbell, J., Downe, S., Fauveau, V., Fogstad, H., ... & Renfrew, M. J. (2014). Improvement of maternal and newborn health through midwifery. The Lancet, 384(9949), 1226–1235. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60930-2
  • UNFPA. (2021). State of the World’s Midwifery 2021. United Nations Population Fund. https://www.unfpa.org/sowmy-2021
  • World Health Organization. (2009). Global standards for the initial education of professional nurses and midwives. https://www.who.int/hrh/nursing_midwifery/hrh_global_standards_education.pdfWorld Health Organization. (2016). Midwives’ voices, midwives’ realities. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/250376/9789241510547-eng.pdf?sequence=1
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). WHO competency framework for health workers’ education and training on antimicrobial resistance. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516358
  • Yüksek Öğretim Kurumu. (2016). National core curriculum for pre-graduate midwifery education. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Kurumsal/egitim_ogretim_dairesi/Ulusal-cekirdek-egitimi-programlari/ebelik.pdf

Application of the Midwifery Professional Competency Survey

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 449 - 462, 30.04.2025

Emel Güden

Abstract

Objective: Competency in midwifery, defined as a combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, is essential for the provision of quality healthcare services. The aim of this study is to evaluate midwives' self-assessment of their professional competencies and to analyze the outcomes within this framework.Methods:The study employed a cross-sectional research design, focusing on the self-assessment of professional competencies among midwives working in Türkiye. A total of 548 midwives participated, providing self-assessments through a questionnaire based on the standards of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Data were collected online between July 2020 and June 2021. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 26, and non-parametric tests were applied where necessary.Results:Midwives stated that they found their overall professional competencies, particularly in the areas of postpartum care and counseling, to be at a high level. They reported feeling competent in areas such as pregnancy monitoring, public health activities, and family planning, while indicating lower competence in managing high-risk births, traumatic deliveries, and participation in professional development activities. Younger and less experienced midwives were found to have generally lower competence scores inspecific areas, such as labor management and pelvic examinations.Conclusion:The study highlights the need for enhanced training and development opportunities for midwives in Türkiye, particularly in high-risk birth management and professional development.

Keywords

Midwife Midwifery Competency

References

  • Aksu, S. (2017). Forensic midwifery. HSP, 4(3), 277–284. https://doi.org/10.17681/Hsp.306089Arslan, Ş. F., Yıldız, A., & Şen, M. M. (2019). The perceptions of midwifery students about program competency. SDÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 10(1).
  • Biçer, G., & Düztepe, Ş. (2003). Yetkinlikler ve yetkinliklerin işletmeler açısından önemi (Competencies and their importance for organizations). JAST,1(2), 13–20. https://jast.hho.msu.edu.tr/index.php/JAST/article/view/69
  • Butler, M. M., Fraser, D. M., & Murphy, R. J. L. (2008). What are the essential competencies required of a midwife at the point of registration? Midwifery, 24(3), 260–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2006.10.010
  • Çiçek, Ö. E. (2009). Evaluation of final-year midwifery students on their roles and competencies according to the duties of midwives (Master’s thesis). https://avesis.deu.edu.tr/yonetilen-tez/b70f8b69-dfbc-41e7-a87f-c81ce388a434/ebelik-son-sinif-ogrencilerinin-ebelerin-gorev-tanimlari-ve-yeterlilik-alanlarina-gore-kendilerini-degerlendirmeleri
  • David, M. C., & McClelland, D. C. (1973). Testing for competence rather than for intelligence. Am Psychol, 28(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0034092
  • Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A. G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysisprogram for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146
  • Firoozehchian, F., Zareiyan, A., Geranmayeh, M., & Behboodi Moghadam, Z. (2022). Domains of competence in midwifery students: A basis for developing a competence assessment tool for Iranian undergraduate midwifery students. BMC Med Educ, 22(1), 704. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03759-z
  • Goshu, M., Godefay, H., Bihonegn, F., Ayalew, F., Haileselassie, D., Kebede, A., Temam, G., & Gidey, G. (2018). Assessing the competence of midwives to provide care during labor, childbirth, and the immediate postpartum period –A cross-sectional study in Tigray region, Ethiopia. PLOS ONE, 13(10), e0206414. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206414
  • Hannah, M. E., Hannah, W. J., Hewson, S. A., Hodnett, E. D., Saigal, S., & Willan, A. R. (2000). Planned caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for breech presentation at term: A randomised multicentre trial. The Lancet, 356(9239), 1375–1383. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02840-3
  • International Confederation of Midwives. (2018). Essential competencies for midwifery practice 2018 (Update). https://www.internationalmidwives.org/assets/files/general-files
  • Khakbazan, Z., Ebadi, A., Geranmayeh, M., & Momenimovahed, Z. (2019). Midwifery professionalism: An integrative review. J Clin Diagn Res, 13(3), LE01–LE08. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2019/38209.12654
  • Le, T. T., Truong, A. T., Vu, T. V., et al. (2024). Vietnam national competency standards for midwifery: A Delphi study. F1000Research, 12, 981. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.138350.2
  • Ministry of Health. (2014). Regulation on the job descriptions of healthcare professionals and other professionals working in healthcare services. https://dosyaism.saglik.gov.tr/eklenti/12541,20140522-29007-sag-meslek-mensuplari-ile-sag-hizde-cal-diger-meslek-mensuplarinin-is-ve-gorev-tanimlarina-dair-yonetmelikpdf.pdf
  • Nove, A., Hoope-Bender, P. T., Moyo, N. T., & Bokosi, M. (2018). The Midwifery services framework: What is it, and why is it needed? Midwifery,57, 54–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.11.003
  • Renfrew, M. J., McFadden, A., Bastos, M. H., Campbell, J., Channon, A. A., Cheung, N. F., ... & Declercq, E. (2014). Midwifery and quality care: Findings from a new evidence-informed framework for maternal and newborn care. The Lancet, 384(9948), 1129–1145. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60789-3
  • Sökmen, Y. (2018). Professional attitudes of midwives and influencing factors (Unpublished master's thesis). Adnan Menderes University, Institute of Health Sciences, Midwifery Master's Program, Aydın, Türkiye
  • Stewart, S., Sidebotham, M., & Davis, D. (2012). The virtual international day of the midwife: Social networking for continuing professional development. Nurse Educ Pract,12(5), 248–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2012.06.004
  • Ten Hoope-Bender, P., de Bernis, L., Campbell, J., Downe, S., Fauveau, V., Fogstad, H., ... & Renfrew, M. J. (2014). Improvement of maternal and newborn health through midwifery. The Lancet, 384(9949), 1226–1235. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60930-2
  • UNFPA. (2021). State of the World’s Midwifery 2021. United Nations Population Fund. https://www.unfpa.org/sowmy-2021
  • World Health Organization. (2009). Global standards for the initial education of professional nurses and midwives. https://www.who.int/hrh/nursing_midwifery/hrh_global_standards_education.pdfWorld Health Organization. (2016). Midwives’ voices, midwives’ realities. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/250376/9789241510547-eng.pdf?sequence=1
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). WHO competency framework for health workers’ education and training on antimicrobial resistance. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516358
  • Yüksek Öğretim Kurumu. (2016). National core curriculum for pre-graduate midwifery education. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Kurumsal/egitim_ogretim_dairesi/Ulusal-cekirdek-egitimi-programlari/ebelik.pdf
There are 22 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Midwifery
Journal Section Kapadokya Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi
Authors

Emel Güden 0000-0003-3492-4298

Publication Date April 30, 2025
Submission Date March 26, 2025
Acceptance Date April 29, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 3 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Güden, E. (2025). Application of the Midwifery Professional Competency Survey. Kapadokya Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(2), 449-462. https://doi.org/10.58241/ksbd.36
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