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School of Health Sciences

Statistics of independent midwives in Switzerland

The Swiss Federation of Midwives (SHV) records the activities and services of independent midwives throughout Switzerland. This data is used for quality assurance and is evaluated annually using descriptive statistics and published in an extensive report. Since 2009, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) has had the mandate to process and evaluate the data and to produce the report.

Background

As part of the service agreement between the Swiss Association of Midwives (SHV) and Santésuisse, the industry association of Swiss health insurers, a national survey on the activities of indepentend midwives has been conducted and published since 2005. The survey records the services provided by midwives as well as socio-demographic and obstetric information on all women and children cared for.

Due to the realignment of data collection with a link to electronic billing and documentation programs, the 2018 survey provided data in a completely new format for the first time. This meant new possibilities for evaluations, which can now be carried out not only at the level of women, but also for checks and visits. It also made things easier for the midwives, as they no longer had to enter the data into multiple recording tools.

Objectives

Data collection and analysis of the activities and services of independent midwives is used for quality assurance. A report with a selection of descriptive results and a flyer with the most important findings is published annually to inform interested people about the services of independent midwives during pregnancy, labour and birth, the postpartum period and breastfeeding as well as about the sociodemographic and perinatal characteristics of the women and children who were seen by them.

Methods

The annually published study consists of:

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