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Strengthening midwifery in Asia and the Pacific region

Open to students

We have a program of work that is generating and translating new knowledge that strengthens the impact and capacity of midwifery, to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in Asia and the Pacific region through strengthening midwifery services. 

Approximately 800 women die each day globally related to pregnancy and childbirth, and an estimated 20 to 30 times that number experience pregnancy-related severe morbidity. Approximately 2 million babies are stillborn after 28 weeks of gestation while 2.4 million infants die in the first month of life. Most deaths are preventable and more than 90% occur in low- and middle-income countries. The Asia-Pacific region includes 36 low- and middle-income countries (22 in Asia and 14 in the South Pacific) with 240 women dying each day due to pregnancy-related causes.

Many Asia-Pacific countries face numerous challenges, including poor-quality antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care, limited access to modern contraceptive methods and significant shortages in the health workforces especially midwives.

What we're doing

Our research has shown that scaling up midwifery services is critical to preventing maternal and newborn deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Despite this, the State of the World’s Midwifery Report estimated that there was a global shortage of 900,000 midwives. This is exacerbated by gaps in quality of care due to poor midwifery education, workforce gender discrimination and a lack of midwifery leadership. 

We hypothesise that strengthened midwifery—education, models of care and leadership—will deliver improved outcomes by reducing maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths.

Student opportunities

View 56 more

Deployment of midwives

Exploring the deployment of midwives in low- and-middle income countries.

Open to
  • Honours
  • Masters by coursework
  • Masters by research
  • PhD

Education and training of midwives

This project is about providing the evidence to support high quality education and training of midwives in low- and-middle income countries.

Open to
  • Honours
  • Masters by coursework
  • Masters by research
  • PhD

Midwifery and childhood immunisation

Exploring the contribution of midwives to childhood immunisation.

Open to
  • Honours
  • Masters by coursework
  • Masters by research
  • PhD

Midwifery leadership

Investigating midwifery leadership in low- and-middle income countries in Asia and the Pacific region.

Open to
  • Honours
  • Masters by coursework
  • Masters by research
  • PhD

Midwifery continuity of care

In-depth exploration of midwifery continuity of care in low- and-middle income countries.

Open to
  • Honours
  • Masters by coursework
  • Masters by research
  • PhD

Project contacts

Professor Caroline Homer AO

Professor Caroline Homer AO

Deputy Director – Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Co-Head, Global Women's and Newborn Health; Co-Head, Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening
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Dr Sarah Bar-Zeev

Dr Sarah Bar-Zeev

Acting Deputy Discipline Head, International Development; Senior Research Fellow (Midwifery)
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Project team

Professor Caroline Homer AO

Professor Caroline Homer AO

Deputy Director – Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Co-Head, Global Women's and Newborn Health; Co-Head, Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening
View profile
Dr Sarah Bar-Zeev

Dr Sarah Bar-Zeev

Acting Deputy Discipline Head, International Development; Senior Research Fellow (Midwifery)
View profile
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Why study at Burnet

When you study with us, you broaden your impact working across our 3 institute-wide programs:

  • Disease Elimination
  • Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness
  • Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health.

Train with internationally recognised experts in a structured student support system.

Gain a holistic research experience along the way.

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