PURPOSE:
To discuss the importance of affective midwifery education and provide a model of one midwifery college’s “Character of a Midwife” curriculum.

DISCUSSION:
An important aspect of training compassionate midwives who are prepared to provide respectful maternity care is the acquisition of the values and beliefs of the profession by the student, which is also referred to as “affective socialization” (Ulrich 2004). One example of how values such as compassion can be integrated into midwifery curriculum is found within Mercy In Action College of Midwifery, an accredited midwifery program in the USA, where education on compassion and other character values is incorporated into the curriculum throughout the four-year program. Students utilize story-telling to reflect on how the presence or absence of various character traits impacts maternal and newborn health outcomes, an effective learning model that aids in affective socialization, helping student midwives internalize values of midwifery such as compassion and respect.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Aktas, Songul, and Türkan Pasinlioğlu. 2021. “The Effect of Empathy Training Given to Midwives on the Empathic Communication Skills of Midwives and the Birth Satisfaction of Mothers Giving Birth With the Help of These Midwives.” Ulrich, Suzan. 2004. “First Birth Stories of Student Midwives: Keys to Professional Affective Socialization.”

KEY MESSAGE:
There is global consensus that the attitudes and behaviors of midwives and childbirth providers directly affect the outcomes of mothers and babies, and that access to compassionate, safe and respectful maternity care is a human rights issue. Midwifery care requires competency in the affective domain in order to develop the soft skills of compassion, kindness and empathy. Such skills are considered a hallmark of midwifery and are important components of safe and respectful care according to the International Childbirth Initiative. This session will present an example of how affective midwifery education prepares the next generation of safe, respectful and evidence based midwives. Education - competency development 2