BACKGROUND:
In the master’s programme Midwifery Led Care M.Sc. at KSH Munich students deal with the effects of climate change on reproductive health. Midwives as ‘key players’ have a central role in prevention and education. The aim is to develop fields of action for sustainable care and to reflect on the role of the midwife in the context of planetary health.

OBJECTIVES:
The project examines the personal and professional environmental perceptions experienced by midwives and how they can contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation.

METHODS:
The qualitative photo-voice method was used. Participants documented their perceptions of the environment photographically. They discussed their images in focus groups, the discussion was recorded, transcribed and analysed to visualise individual perspectives and identify shared meanings.

RESULTS:
In their photographs, the participants show personal perceptions of the environment in urban areas and link these emotionally with memories and quality of life. In their reflections, they identify environmental problems, name threatened resources and recognise their professional responsibility for climate protection. Midwives see opportunities for action in environmental education, climate-sensitive counselling, resource-conserving action and social commitment. Practical examples illustrate creative approaches to combining sustainability and professional standards.

CONCLUSIONS:
The discussions show a shift from concern to increased awareness and a positive attitude: many small steps together form an effective contribution to ecological sustainability and illustrate the transformative power of midwives.

KEY MESSAGE:
Six central points of discussion crystallised:1. The dual role of midwives as key players in the climate crisis.2. Emotional attachment as an important driver for engagement in the professional context.3. Creatively addressing the tension between medical standards and sustainability.4. Transformation through small, achievable steps.5. Photo-voice as a method of raising awareness.6. Transferring research into practice in the complex fields of action of the midwifery profession. Poster session 4 (Group B)