Methodology

The ICM Midwife‑Led Birthing Centres project (2021) documents features of dedicated midwife‑led birthing centres (MLBCs), primarily serving low‑risk pregnancies within health systems. The study outlines core enablers, referral linkages, financing models and actionable steps to scale safe, woman‑centred primary care.

The 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) report, led by ICM, UNFPA, and WHO, provides country-level data on the midwifery workforce, including national midwives’ associations, education, leadership, and regulation. It highlights gaps and opportunities to strengthen midwife-led care and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Europeristat provides standardized perinatal health data across European countries. Indicators include episiotomy rates, multiple births by number of fetuses, and pregnancies following fertility treatments. Data are collected through national health systems to support maternal and newborn health monitoring in Europe.

Adapted from Liang et al. (2024), based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, this dataset provides global, regional, and national estimates of preterm birth rates, defined as live births occurring before 37 completed weeks of gestation. The data supports efforts to monitor and reduce the global burden of preterm birth.

The OECD provides standardized health data across member countries to support international comparison and policy development. This dataset includes caesarean birth rates, a key indicator of maternal care practices and health system trends. Data are reported through national health systems and compiled to monitor quality and outcomes in maternity care across OECD countries.

StatCompiler provides standardized data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in low- and middle-income countries. Indicators include antenatal care coverage, timing and provider type, iron supplementation during pregnancy, postnatal care providers, and demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods. The data supports evidence-based decision-making in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health.

In collaboration with the UN Population Division, UNFPA provides estimates and projections on key sexual and reproductive health indicators. Indicators included on the hub are the contraceptive prevalence rate for modern methods among women aged 15–49 years, which supports global monitoring of access to family planning and reproductive health services.

The World Population Prospects 2024 revision, published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, provides demographic estimates and projections. This source provides several key indicators, such as the number of women of reproductive age, total fertility rates, live births, and use of modern contraception. These data support planning and policymaking for reproductive health and population dynamics.

The UNICEF Breastfeeding dataset provides national estimates on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding tracking whether newborns breastfed within one hour of birth, and if infants were exclusively breastfed through the first five months. Based on household survey data.

The UNICEF Data Warehouse provides global health indicators drawn from national surveys and administrative data. Datasets from this source include the neonatal mortality rate, or deaths within the first 28 days of life per 1,000 live births. The neonatal mortality rate is a key indicator of newborn health and healthcare system quality.

This dataset provides the percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel, a critical indicator of safe and effective birthing care. Data are drawn from household surveys and national reporting systems.

The UNICEF Low Birthweight dataset provides national estimates on the prevalence of newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth. This indicator is a key measure of newborn health and nutrition. Data are drawn from household surveys and national administrative sources.

The WHO Global Health Observatory compiles key health indicators to monitor global health trends. Midwifery-related data indicators included on the hub are maternal and neonatal deaths, preterm births, facility birth rates, and maternal mortality ratios. These indicators provide critical insights into health system performance and maternal-newborn health outcomes.

The WHO National Health Workforce Accounts platform provides standardized data on health workforce availability across countries. For midwifery, indicators include the total number of midwives and the ratio per 10,000 population. This data supports planning, monitoring, and strengthening of the midwifery workforce globally.

The WHO Policy Survey 2023 assesses national midwifery policies across education, regulation, and service delivery. Indicators cover policy support for midwife-led care, education frameworks based on ICM competencies, regulation of midwifery practice, and recognition of midwives as a distinct profession.