PURPOSE:
To outline the policy approach to midwifery-related initiatives by the Japanese Nursing Association. We aim to share the advocation process with the national government that continuous care by midwives contributes to safe and comfortable childbirth environments, and how these efforts led to the promotion of in-hospital midwife-led care and in-hospital midwifery clinic.

DISCUSSION:
1. Issue Identification Survey-based identification of challenges, including a lack of specialized educational tools for midwives and restrictions placed on midwife autonomy due to medical safety concerns. 2. Policy Implementation Development of guidelines and educational tools to enhance midwife competencies. 3. Policy Evaluation Confirmation through surveys of increased facilities offering in-hospital midwife-led care and in-hospital midwifery clinic, and provision of SRMNAH care by midwives. 4. Policy Development To further support continuous care from pregnancy through child-rearing, the Association revised the Guidelines for In-Hospital Midwife-Led Care and In-Hospital Midwifery Clinic and repeatedly advocated the national government on the importance of expanding these services. Evidence that midwifery services help reduce physicians’ workloads also bolstered the case, contributing to their incorporation into national policy. 5. Future Outlook Exploring mechanisms that would enable midwives to actively participate in policy development.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
ICM Professional Framework for Midwifery (2021)

KEY MESSAGE:
By sharing examples of the Japanese Nursing Association’s initiatives, we hope to provide insights that will support ICM member associations and professional organizations worldwide in carrying out initiatives to improve their national maternal and child health policies. Poster session 4 (Group B)