This unit introduces students to midwifery in other cultures, the global politics of maternity service provision with a focus on rural and remote issues. The role of WHO, World Bank, UNICEF, ICM. Concepts such as Choice, Control and Continuity of care will be critically evaluated in global context. The effects on maternity service provision of movements such as 'risk management', 'clinical governance' and 'evidence-based medicine' will be explored.

Relevance to midwifery: Midwives follow women across the interface between the community and the hospital: in any setting, including the home, the community, hospitals, or in any other maternity service (NMBA,2006). The midwife is required to comprehensively and accurately assess the needs of women and their babies throughout the childbearing episode and where women and/or their babies have complex needs, provide midwifery care in collaboration with other health professionals. This unit provides the student with the opportunity to explore the notion and context of international midwifery practice in developing countries.

This unit enables the student midwife to understand the issues and dilemmas faced by women in developing countries.

The student learns about the Sustainable Development Goals in relation to the previous Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations plight towards working and achieving these goals. The unit includes optional up to 280 hours of clinical placement in Indonesia that is associated with one of the essay questions.

Unit Information