Midwifery education: Challenges for the future in a dynamic environment

Abstract

Iceland and the Netherlands both have a long history of midwifery education and midwifery practice. Starting as a midwife requires a direct entry BSc program in midwifery in The Netherlands, where Iceland requires a nurse-midwife model. This paper presents an overview of midwifery education and its dynamic in these countries. Subsequently, we explore two most notable components that were identified as important for the future of midwifery education. In the concluding section, we reflect how these components support the scope of practice as presented in the Lancet framework for quality maternal and newborn care.