Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
The workforce paradox: Analysing the critical disparity between maternal and infant mortality rates and midwife density in West Java, Indonesia
1
Universitas Padjadjaran, Department of Public Health, Bandung, Indonesia
2
Universitas Padjadjaran, Master of Midwifery Program, Bandung, Indonesia
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A889
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite the presence of numerous trained midwives in West Java, one of the most populous provinces in Indonesia, the rates of maternal and neonatal mortality remain excessively high. The paradoxical nature of this disconnect is that a competent workforce does not necessarily result in improved health outcomes or equitable access for all.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aims to examine the relationship between the midwife-to-population ratio and maternity and newborn outcomes in 27 districts of West Java Province, while emphasizing structural injustices and systemic deficiencies in workforce distribution that may result in avoidable deaths.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional analysis included 2021 data from the West Java Health Profile, the Central Statistics Agency, and community surveys. We conducted the Shapiro-Wilk test to assess normality, followed by Spearman correlation analysis to explore the relationships between the number of midwives and the rates of maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, and low birth weight. The R platform employed statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
The number of midwives and the number of low-birth-weight babies (ρ = -0.6900, p < 0.001), infant deaths (ρ = -0.5787, p < 0.01), and maternal deaths (ρ = -0.6867, p < 0.001) exhibited significant negative correlations. The findings revealed that no districts fulfilled the Ministry of Health's standard of two midwives per 1,000 inhabitants, particularly in various remote and high-mortality regions.
CONCLUSIONS:
This analysis reveals a significant issue with policies and processes in high-demand regions: midwives are unable to perform their essential roles without systematic, data-informed support and resource allocation. Consequently, it is essential to allocate resources to the deployment of midwives, the autonomy of professionals, and the provision of incentives for marginalized regions.
KEY MESSAGE:
Merely having a sufficient number of midwives is inadequate. Maternal and infant mortality would persist unabated without equal distribution and institutional support, regardless of the presence of skilled birth attendants. Poster session 4 (Group B)
Despite the presence of numerous trained midwives in West Java, one of the most populous provinces in Indonesia, the rates of maternal and neonatal mortality remain excessively high. The paradoxical nature of this disconnect is that a competent workforce does not necessarily result in improved health outcomes or equitable access for all.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aims to examine the relationship between the midwife-to-population ratio and maternity and newborn outcomes in 27 districts of West Java Province, while emphasizing structural injustices and systemic deficiencies in workforce distribution that may result in avoidable deaths.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional analysis included 2021 data from the West Java Health Profile, the Central Statistics Agency, and community surveys. We conducted the Shapiro-Wilk test to assess normality, followed by Spearman correlation analysis to explore the relationships between the number of midwives and the rates of maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, and low birth weight. The R platform employed statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
The number of midwives and the number of low-birth-weight babies (ρ = -0.6900, p < 0.001), infant deaths (ρ = -0.5787, p < 0.01), and maternal deaths (ρ = -0.6867, p < 0.001) exhibited significant negative correlations. The findings revealed that no districts fulfilled the Ministry of Health's standard of two midwives per 1,000 inhabitants, particularly in various remote and high-mortality regions.
CONCLUSIONS:
This analysis reveals a significant issue with policies and processes in high-demand regions: midwives are unable to perform their essential roles without systematic, data-informed support and resource allocation. Consequently, it is essential to allocate resources to the deployment of midwives, the autonomy of professionals, and the provision of incentives for marginalized regions.
KEY MESSAGE:
Merely having a sufficient number of midwives is inadequate. Maternal and infant mortality would persist unabated without equal distribution and institutional support, regardless of the presence of skilled birth attendants. Poster session 4 (Group B)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
