Training needs of healthcare professionals: results from the Improving MAternal Newborn Care study in 12 European countries
1
WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCSS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
2
School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1764
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study aims at exploring the perspective of HPs in charge of mothers and newborns regarding their training needs in order to provide a high quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC).
METHODS:
HPs providing care to women and newborns in facilities for at least one year between March 1st 2020 to March 1st 2023, were invited to answer an anonymous, validated, online survey based on WHO Standards Quality Measures. We performed a descriptive analysis on five areas of training indicators: 1) healthy newborn/women; 2) maternal/neonatal emergencies; 3) communication/rights; 4) in-service supportive supervision; 5) guidelines and protocols. We reported the frequency of reported need for improvement. Subgroup analyses by country, facility type (private vs public) and health profession (midwife vs other HPs) as well as multivariate analyses, were performed.
RESULTS:
Among 4143 HPs from 12 European countries, 60.3% were midwives. A high frequency of HPs reported the need for improvement in training, respectively: 1) healthy newborn/women area were 66.3% HPs, 2) maternal/neonatal emergencies area were 56.7%; 3) communication and rights were 54.5% and 65.5% respectively; 4) in-service supportive supervision area were 40.2%; 5) guidelines and protocols area were 61.3%. Despite moderate heterogeneity being identified across countries, no country was free from gaps. HPs in public facilities and midwives compared to other professionals reported significantly higher need for training improvement. Multivariate analyses confirmed differences by countries, facility type and type of HPs.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study gathers the perspectives of HPs from 12 different countries and highlights the clear need to improve HP training in the assessed fields. In the context of the ongoing global HPs crisis, characterized by workforce shortages and increasing workload, these results further underscore the importance of strengthened training and monitoring systems to ensure an enabling, positive and motivating working environment for HPs.
This study aims at exploring the perspective of HPs in charge of mothers and newborns regarding their training needs in order to provide a high quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC).
METHODS:
HPs providing care to women and newborns in facilities for at least one year between March 1st 2020 to March 1st 2023, were invited to answer an anonymous, validated, online survey based on WHO Standards Quality Measures. We performed a descriptive analysis on five areas of training indicators: 1) healthy newborn/women; 2) maternal/neonatal emergencies; 3) communication/rights; 4) in-service supportive supervision; 5) guidelines and protocols. We reported the frequency of reported need for improvement. Subgroup analyses by country, facility type (private vs public) and health profession (midwife vs other HPs) as well as multivariate analyses, were performed.
RESULTS:
Among 4143 HPs from 12 European countries, 60.3% were midwives. A high frequency of HPs reported the need for improvement in training, respectively: 1) healthy newborn/women area were 66.3% HPs, 2) maternal/neonatal emergencies area were 56.7%; 3) communication and rights were 54.5% and 65.5% respectively; 4) in-service supportive supervision area were 40.2%; 5) guidelines and protocols area were 61.3%. Despite moderate heterogeneity being identified across countries, no country was free from gaps. HPs in public facilities and midwives compared to other professionals reported significantly higher need for training improvement. Multivariate analyses confirmed differences by countries, facility type and type of HPs.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study gathers the perspectives of HPs from 12 different countries and highlights the clear need to improve HP training in the assessed fields. In the context of the ongoing global HPs crisis, characterized by workforce shortages and increasing workload, these results further underscore the importance of strengthened training and monitoring systems to ensure an enabling, positive and motivating working environment for HPs.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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