Basic and Ongoing Education for Midwives

Statement of belief

The Confederation believes that midwifery is a profession in its own right, with a unique body of knowledge as well as shared knowledge with other health disciplines and that midwives should be in charge of defining midwifery education and practice in keeping with the needs of the country or region. ICM further believes that midwifery competence can be achieved through multiple educational pathways, provided that stated competencies are clear and there is evidence that such competency has been achieved. ICM also believes that all teachers must be competent in both theory and clinical practice and that learning is on going and does not stop at the completion of a formal educational program. Therefore, ICM believes that it is the ethical duty of each midwife to remain safe and current in practice at all times.

Policy

In keeping with the abovementioned beliefs, the International Confederation of Midwives:

· Recognises and requires that essential competencies for the practice of midwifery are defined locally in keeping with the needs of individuals/families and the area of the world where the midwife is practising;

· Supports and requires that these essential competencies for midwifery practice be included in the design and implementation of midwifery curricula;

· Mandates that curricula provide the opportunity for all learners to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to enable the midwife to practice to the full extent of her role as identified within the ICM/FIGO/WHO Definition of the Midwife (1992);

· Recognises and supports multiple routes of entry into midwifery that result in a variety of educational programs;

· Recognises and requires that midwifery teachers be safe and current in their theory and clinical practice;

· Recognises the vital role that continuing education plays in the safety and currency of an individual's midwifery practice and urges member association to require continuing education updates in keeping with the ethical mandate for advancement of midwifery knowledge and practice as stated in the International Code of Ethics for Midwives (1993).

Guiding statement to Member Associations

Member associations in countries where midwives do not have control of midwifery education are encouraged to negotiate with their governments for this to occur after needed efforts to define competencies and curricula have been accomplished.

Support references

- ICM/FIGO/WHO Definition of the Midwife (1972, 1992)

- ICM International Code of Ethics for Midwives (1993)

- ICM Statement of Provisional Essential Competencies for Midwifery

Practice (1999)

- Knowles, M. Andragogy in Action: The Science of Teaching Adults.

Supersedes ICM statements:

Appropriate Education for Midwives 90/4

Continuing Professional Education 90/2

Adopted by the International Confederation of Midwives Council, Manila, May 1999

Date for review: 2005