Most Americans not aware midwives provide care beyond pregnancy, study finds

Most Americans are unaware that midwives provide women’s healthcare beyond pregnancy and birth, a new survey has found.

The survey of 1,006 Americans found that 93 per cent think midwives only deliver babies and were surprised to learn they can be a trusted partner in all aspects of women’s health.

The research was conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. It found that only one in five Americans are aware midwives can provide women’s annual gynaecology exams.

Michaela Ward, a certified nurse-midwife at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, said: “We take care of women across the lifespan. We are highly trained and we’re highly skilled.

“We can take care of you even if there is something more complex about you or your health.

“If I need to consult with one of our physicians at Ohio State, I can call them right away and discuss the patient’s case.

“We all work together to provide the best care possible for our patients.”

While services such as pregnancy and birth support and water births were correctly identified as midwife services by over half of adults, other services like medication management, menopause care and annual women’s health exams are known by far fewer.

Both men and women were equally unaware of the full breadth of services provided.

Survey respondents’ knowledge of women’s health services provided by midwives included pregnancy and birth support (93 per cent), water births (69 per cent), medication management including birth control (26 per cent), menopause care (23 per cent), annual women’s health exams including pap smears and STI testing (20 per cent), caesarean sections (13 per cent) and ‘don’t know’ responses (1 per cent).

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the US is expected to face a significant shortage of obstetrician-gynaecologists in the next five years.