Midwives’ views about the effects of climate change on maternal and child health: A qualitative study

• Published in: Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 451 - 457
• Main Authors: Dağlı, Elif, Reyhan, Feyza Aktaş, Kırca, Ayça Şolt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2024
• Subjects: Climate change; Midwife; Mother-child health; Qualitative study; Climate change; Mother-child health; Midwife; Qualitative study
• ISSN: 1871-5192; 1878-1799
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.02.001

Midwives have important responsibilities to protect the health of mothers and children from the negative effects of climate change.
This research was conducted to determine how midwives perceived climate change, the effects of climate change on maternal and child health, and what midwives could do to combat these effects.
The research was designed as a case study, one of the qualitative research designs. The research sample consisted of 11 midwives selected by snowball sampling, which is one of the non-random sampling methods.
The data obtained were collected under five main themes. The themes were determined as “(I) the causes of climate change, (II) concerns about the consequences of climate change, (III) the effects of climate change on mother-child health, (IV) measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, and (V) midwives' role in protecting mother-child health against the effects of climate change.”
Midwives are knowledgeable about climate change. They are aware of the effects of climate change on maternal and child health and they are doing some practices in this regard (breastfeeding, promoting the regulation of fertility and adequate/balanced nutrition, etc.). Midwives are aware of the importance of the midwifery profession in raising awareness of the individual and society, in addressing the effects of climate change on human health and in reducing the negative effects of climate change on health, and they want to take action at the national level (with the support of the midwifery organization and the state) for the sustainability of health.