Are the Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2016-2020 being implemented in countries? Findings from a cross-sectional analysis.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101170535 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1478-4491 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14784491 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Hum Resour Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: [London] : BioMed Central

Global Health*; Nurse Midwives/*standards ; Nurse Midwives/*supply & distribution ; Nurses/*standards ; Nurses/*supply & distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care/standards ; Female ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Sustainable Development ; Universal Health Insurance ; World Health Organization

Background: Nurses and midwives are the largest component of the health workforce in many countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) together with its partners facilitates the joint development of strategic policy guidance for countries to support the optimization of their nursing and midwifery workforce. The Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2016-2020 (SDNM) is a global policy guidance tool that provides a framework for Member States, the WHO and its partners to adapt, develop, implement and evaluate nursing and midwifery policy interventions in Member States. As part of the broader monitoring and accountability functions of the WHO, assessing the progress of the SDNM implementation at a country level is key to ensuring that countries stay on track towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Methods: This is a cross-sectional mixed methods study involving the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data on the implementation of country-level interventions in the SDNM. Data was provided by government chief nursing and midwifery officers or their representatives using an online self-reported questionnaire. The quantitative data was assessed using a three-level scale and descriptive statistics while qualitative comments were analysed and presented narratively.
Results: Thirty-five countries completed the survey. Summing up the implementation frequency of interventions across all thematic areas, 19% of responses were in the category of "completed"; 55% were reportedly "in progress" and 26% indicated a status of "not started". Findings reveal a stronger level of implementation for areas of nursing and midwifery development related to enhancing regulation and education, creating stronger roles for professional associations and policy strengthening. Leadership and interprofessional collaboration are intervention areas that were less implemented.
Conclusion: Monitoring and accountability of countries' commitments towards implementing nursing and midwifery interventions, as outlined in the SDNM, contributes to strengthening the evidence base for policy reforms in countries. This stock-taking can inform policy- and decision-makers' deliberations on strengthening the contributions of nurses and midwives to achieving UHC and the SDGs.

Erratum in: Hum Resour Health. 2020 Jul 17;18(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s12960-020-00492-w. (PMID: 32680517)

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001 International WHO_ World Health Organization

Keywords: Health policy; Health systems; Implementation; Midwives; Nurses

Date Created: 20190714 Date Completed: 20200401 Latest Revision: 20240718

20240718

PMC6626395

10.1186/s12960-019-0392-2

31300058