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Midwifery Workforce


ACNM conducted a Midwifery Workforce Study that identified policy changes needed to expand the midwifery workforce to optimum capacity. 


Midwifery in the United States is underutilized and underfunded (Sakala et al., 2020). Increasing access and integration of midwives throughout the US can improve equity and outcomes (Vedam et al., 2018). Currently, the US has approximately 4 midwives employed per 1,000 live births.  With over 3.7 million live births a year, at least 22,000 midwives are needed in the midwifery workforce to meet the World Health Organization goal of at minimum 6 midwives per 1,000 live births. Currently, there are about 14,000 midwives in the US including those not in clinical practice, resulting in a gap of at least 8200 midwives. Even at 6/1000 births, the US will have a smaller midwifery workforce than other high-income countries with better outcomes.

The Midwifery Workforce Study researchers are analyzed publicly avialiable data and data collected by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) and the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), to provide the most accurate evaluation of the current midwifery workforce size, capacity, and growth trajectory. 


Workforce Study Data BRIEFS

Workforce Study Data RELEASE



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