1.1 Introduction
Midwifery primary health care abilities were considered a significant enabler, with the capability to mitigate health disparities. Midwives play a key role in partnership methods with individuals, families, and communities, and comprehensive primary health care is essential to meaningful client-centered care. The Sustainable Development Goals established by the framework of the United Nations might be greatly aided by midwives, who are an important part of the team that offers reproductive health care (Lopes et al., 2016).
One essential component of the full service delivery model is health care planning. Midwives, and other associated health care providers at all level of the service delivery system use it. When it comes to sexual and reproductive health, midwives are the first to respond. They enable the delivery of services that are appropriate for each person's culture and religion and can foster an environment that is conducive to women's empowerment (Nove et al., 2018; Sandwell et al., 2018).
This chapter will address the background information that motivated this study, the challenges that prompted it, its aim, and its objectives as a preface to subsequent sections of the study. Additional factors include the study's significance, scope, limitations, research questions and hypotheses, and the definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In Nigeria, midwives had supplanted obstetricians as birth attendants by the early 20th century, and a new perspective on the risks associated with childbirth was beginning to take shape. Obstetrical risks were institutionalized within an expanding corpus of medical knowledge as labour transitioned from a domestic to a medical occurrence. Risk became defined and approved by the biomedical community, replacing the original concept of danger. Midwives' original job was to be "with woman" during labour, providing emotional support and encouragement, as implied by the mediaeval origin of their word. The midwife's expertise was in making sure the patient followed the recommended cleanliness protocols and in assisting the labouring mother in using her own reproductive abilities to give birth to her kid painlessly and spontaneously.
Since midwives play a key role in providing mothers with safe care on a global scale, the International Confederation of Midwives has established the duties and criteria for them. When working with women, midwives offer primary care as well as screening to identify whether women have pregnancy-related issues that need for specialized or medical attention. Midwives in a typical pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care for mothers and infants, midwives are known for their skills (Stone, 2009).
A midwife can perform a wide range of functions, according to Medforth (2011). Midwife helps the lady and her family adjusts to motherhood, performs clinical testing, and educates the public and parents about health concerns. She is a highly qualified professional. The midwife engages in partnerships with diverse health and social institutions to cater to the specific need of mothers, encompassing but not restricted to teenage mothers, mothers from marginalised communities, women with impairments, and mothers of mixed ethnic backgrounds. According to Medforth (2011), midwives work in a range of healthcare settings, such as large general hospitals, smaller freestanding maternity units, private maternity hospitals, group practices, birth centres, general practitioners' offices, and the community.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Role of a Midwife in the Community Primary Health Care.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that Nigerian midwifery lacks independence; private organizations and insurance companies do not contract with this class; human resource standardization and organizational boundary creation are lacking; the description of midwifery duties is revised; and unfavourable marketing is prevalent. An accurate, cautious, and responsible approach is required to address the issues facing this class and advance midwifery's role in promoting societal health (MOHME, 2005).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of a Midwife in the Community Primary Health Care. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To investigate the factors that influence the attitude of midwife towards utilization of primary health care services;
- To identify the contribution of midwife towards providing basic health care; and
- To proffer suggestions about desired roles of a midwife in health care service delivery system.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors influencing the attitude of midwife towards utilization of primary health care services?
- What is the contribution of midwife towards providing basic health care?
- What are the desired roles of a midwife in health care service delivery system?
