BARCELONA — The work of a midwife is not limited to labor wards and deliveries. These health professionals also play a critical role in reducing child and maternal mortality through community education, family planning services, and advocating for women’s reproductive rights.
There can be many misconceptions about the role and expertise of midwives, and this is one of the challenges of the job, said Olajumoke Adebayo, who works in a midwife-led health center in Nigeria, where the rate of maternal deaths is particularly high.
Adebayo, who is also a member of the Young Midwifery Leaders program at the International Confederation of Midwives, spoke to Devex about what her daily work looks like, the different ways that midwives are contributing to global health, and how the role is evolving.