2.8.

5 Barriers to education experienced

by midwifery personnel

A systematic mapping of barriers to quality

midwifery care found significant sociocultural,
economic and professional barriers experienced
by midwifery care providers (Fig. 7) (17). These
barriers must be acknowledged and addressed to
transform the quality of education and provision
of quality care (17). The barriers mitigate against
women’s rights, education and employment.
In a predominantly female profession, deeply
held sociocultural views around the role of
women in the workplace, combined with
beliefs that childbirth is low-skilled “women’s
work” can lead to a lack of acceptance of
midwifery as a profession, and of women
being educated and trained as midwives (17).