Empowering Decision-Making in Midwifery: A Global Perspective

Decision-making pervades all aspects of midwifery practice across the world. Midwifery is informed by a number of decision-making theories, but it is sometimes difficult to marry these theories with practice.

This book provides a comprehensive exploration of decision-making for midwives irrespective of where in the world they practice or in which model of care. The first part critically reviews decision-making theories, including the Enhancing Decision-making Assessment in Midwifery (EDAM) tool, and their relevance to midwifery. It explores the links between midwifery governance, including professional regulation and the law, risk and safety and decision-making as well as how critical thinking and reflection are essential elements of decision-making. It then goes on to present a number of diverse case studies, demonstrating how they interrelate to and impact upon optimal midwifery decision-making. Each chapter presents examples that show how the theory translates into practice and includes activities to reinforce learning points.

Bringing together a diverse range of contributors, this volume will be essential reading for midwifery students, practising midwives and midwifery academics.

Elaine Jefford is a midwifery academic and researcher at Southern Cross University, Australia. Elaine is a UK-trained nurse and midwife who immigrated to Australia in 2005. Her primary research focus is within the field of midwifery decision-making and abdicating one’s professional accountability, the impacts of this in relation to risk, safety and quality of care provision on maternal and neonatal health, midwives and the midwifery profession. She has also been involved in national and international curriculum development in midwifery.

Julie Jomeen is a Professor of Midwifery and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull, UK. Julie currently co-leads a Research Group for Maternal, Reproductive Health within the Faculty. A key focus of her work is exploring issues of perinatal mental health and psychological health in childbearing women. Other research interests include women’s choice and decision-making and practitioner decision-making.