Study on 1:1 midwife ratios
New research explored whether a 1:1 midwife‑to‑mother model is feasible in Middle Eastern settings, examining staffing implications for continuity-based care. The study was shared on April 11, 2026 and raises operational questions for scaling midwifery models. (x.com)
A new mini‑review asks whether a one‑midwife‑per‑birthing‑mother model is achievable in Middle Eastern health systems and maps staffing implications. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org) The paper was authored by Atika Khalaf and published in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health on April 8, 2026 after submission on January 24 and acceptance on March 10, 2026. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org) Khalaf clarifies what “one‑to‑one midwifery care” means, reviews outcome evidence for midwife‑led continuity, and offers a scenario‑based staffing calculation using births‑per‑midwife planning ratios applied to the United Arab Emirates. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org) The World Health Organization recommends midwifery models where midwives provide continuous care across pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period. (who.int) High‑quality evidence shows midwife continuity of care is associated with better outcomes: a 2024 Cochrane review of 17 trials and 18,533 women found spontaneous vaginal birth likely rose from 66 percent to 70 percent and caesarean rates likely fell from 16 percent to 15 percent. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Khalaf reports that many Middle Eastern systems remain obstetrician‑led, midwifery education is uneven, and professional autonomy is limited, and she frames one‑to‑one care as dependent on education, leadership and regulatory reform. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org) The paper uses tools such as Birthrate Plus and references National Institute for Health and Care Excellence safe‑staffing guidance (NG4) to model how births‑per‑midwife ratios translate into whole‑time‑equivalent staffing needs for intrapartum one‑to‑one coverage. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org) Global implementation studies note barriers that match Khalaf’s concerns—workforce shortages, infrastructure limits and cultural barriers—and call for mixed‑methods and economic trials to test scale‑up in low‑ and middle‑income settings. (journals.plos.org) Khalaf’s conclusion asks policymakers to pursue phased, education‑led reforms, protected midwifery leadership roles and significant workforce expansion as prerequisites for feasible one‑to‑one intrapartum care; the paper recommends region‑specific trials and economic evaluation next. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org)
