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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Towards a distinct ethical identity: Co-developing midwifery ethics for professional advancement
1
Edith Cowan University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Perth, Australia
2
Sheffield University, School of Nursing and midwifery, Sheffield, United Kingdom
3
Flinders University, Caring Futures Institute- College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Adelaide, Australia
4
Zuyd University, Midwifery, Maastricht, Netherlands
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A312
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Midwives may have theoretical knowledge of ethics, but applying ethical care in practice may be challenging, due to the abstract nature of ethical codes, the complexities of maternity care systems, and the nuanced ethical concerns encountered in everyday midwifery practice. Despite these challenges, a co-created empirically driven midwifery ethics have yet to be achieved, indicating a significant gap in the literature and midwifery governance.
OBJECTIVES:
To explore midwives experiences of ethical practice, and synthesize characteristics of midwifery ethics to a set of statements for practice and governance.
METHODS:
A two round Delphi method was employed, and survey data was collected from June to November 2024 via Redcap about midwives’ experiences of ethics. Descriptive thematic analysis was applied to the data. In round Two, participants ranked and commented on statements about midwifery ethics that were derived from the qualitative data collected in Round One.
RESULTS:
Fifty participants from over 20 countries participated in the study. Sixty percent of participants worked in public hospitals, 6% in private hospitals and the remaining 34% worked in midwifery models of care. Descriptive analysis produced four domains and fourteen characteristics that describe a unique ethics specific to midwifery practice. The four domains are: Midwifery ethics are founded in midwifery philosophy: Midwifery ethics as ‘relational care’. Midwifery ethics are embodied (lived or intrinsic) and Midwifery ethics requires advocacy.
CONCLUSIONS:
These domains and characteristics of midwifery ethics provide insights into midwives' unique ethical practices and represent foundational knowledge to inform the practical application of midwifery ethics. Empirical evidence for a distinct midwifery ethics is fundamental to advancing the midwifery profession.
KEY MESSAGE:
This study extends the existing understandings of midwifery ethics and presents a unique, applied and co-created midwifery ethics for practice. Regulation - framework
Midwives may have theoretical knowledge of ethics, but applying ethical care in practice may be challenging, due to the abstract nature of ethical codes, the complexities of maternity care systems, and the nuanced ethical concerns encountered in everyday midwifery practice. Despite these challenges, a co-created empirically driven midwifery ethics have yet to be achieved, indicating a significant gap in the literature and midwifery governance.
OBJECTIVES:
To explore midwives experiences of ethical practice, and synthesize characteristics of midwifery ethics to a set of statements for practice and governance.
METHODS:
A two round Delphi method was employed, and survey data was collected from June to November 2024 via Redcap about midwives’ experiences of ethics. Descriptive thematic analysis was applied to the data. In round Two, participants ranked and commented on statements about midwifery ethics that were derived from the qualitative data collected in Round One.
RESULTS:
Fifty participants from over 20 countries participated in the study. Sixty percent of participants worked in public hospitals, 6% in private hospitals and the remaining 34% worked in midwifery models of care. Descriptive analysis produced four domains and fourteen characteristics that describe a unique ethics specific to midwifery practice. The four domains are: Midwifery ethics are founded in midwifery philosophy: Midwifery ethics as ‘relational care’. Midwifery ethics are embodied (lived or intrinsic) and Midwifery ethics requires advocacy.
CONCLUSIONS:
These domains and characteristics of midwifery ethics provide insights into midwives' unique ethical practices and represent foundational knowledge to inform the practical application of midwifery ethics. Empirical evidence for a distinct midwifery ethics is fundamental to advancing the midwifery profession.
KEY MESSAGE:
This study extends the existing understandings of midwifery ethics and presents a unique, applied and co-created midwifery ethics for practice. Regulation - framework
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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