The State of the World’s Midwifery 2011: Delivering Health, Saving Lives, was launched on 20 June in Durban, South Africa. The report provides new information and data gathered from 58 countries across all regions with the aim of strengthening the practice of midwifery around the world. UNFPA worked with 30 partners, including the International Confederation of Midwives, and the White Ribbon Alliance to produce this report, which provides the first comprehensive analysis of midwifery services and issues in countries where the needs are greatest. Its analysis confirms that the world lacks some 350,000 skilled midwives - 112,000 in the neediest 38 countries surveyed - to fully meet the needs of women around the world. The report explores a range of issues related to building up this key health workforce.
Read The State of the World’s Midwifery 2011 report
Read about the threat to maternal mortality reduction of midwives burning out by Women and Children First’s CEO Ros Davies on the Guardian’s Poverty Matters blog.
