Number of midwives in Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, the hard work, care, and professionalism of midwives are demonstrated in every birth, making them a vital pillar of the nation's maternity assistance system. With over 9,000 midwives employed across the country, these dedicated professionals provide medical, psychological, and emotional support to expectant mothers, ensuring each joyful birth is as safe and comfortable as possible.
This year, Kazakhstan is celebrating International Midwives Day, expressing gratitude for the selfless work of midwives. This day, officially recognized in 1992, holds special significance in Kazakhstan, acknowledging the committed midwives behind every joyful birth.
Approximately 64% of midwives work in cities, while about 36% work in rural areas, providing essential services in both urban and remote areas. The maternity assistance system in Kazakhstan supports this wide-reaching network, with 58 maternity hospitals and 37 perinatal centers providing comprehensive care.
In the cities, 3,740 midwives work in maternity hospitals, while 3,675 work at the primary medical and sanitary aid level. Remote areas are also well-served, with over 600 midwives working at feldsher-midwife stations. Ambulatory care is provided by 810 women's clinics, 1,282 physician's offices, and 790 feldsher-midwife stations.
However, the maternity assistance system in Kazakhstan faces challenges. The recent healthcare reform has shifted from a fully state-funded model to a mixed Mandatory Social Health Insurance (MSHI) model since 2020, creating a two-tiered system with disparities in access and satisfaction between insured and uninsured women, particularly in obstetric and gynecological care. Systemic disparities in access to timely, quality maternity care, financial barriers for uninsured women who only receive a basic free medical care package, and limited research on patient satisfaction are among the issues that need to be addressed.
Moreover, rural healthcare infrastructure is adapting to changing population distributions, with flexible facility norms aimed at improving local access. However, population decline and resource allocation remain issues. Additionally, disruptions from global complications such as the COVID-19 pandemic have caused significant service interruptions and increased maternal mortality worldwide, including impacts on skilled workforce availability like midwives and community health workers.
There are also calls for improved comprehensive and accessible maternity-related services, including legal and healthcare support, especially addressing broader women's rights and protections as part of systemic health equity efforts.
International Midwives Day, celebrated on May 5th, serves as a reminder of the crucial role midwives play in Kazakhstan's maternity assistance system and the ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access, address financial barriers, improve rural healthcare provision, and adapt to the challenges posed by global disruptions.
- The maternity assistance system in Kazakhstan, which supports over 9,000 midwives, not only provides comprehensive care in health-and-wellness but also champions the science of midwifery by ensuring each joyful birth is as safe and comfortable as possible.
- With the shift to a mixed Mandatory Social Health Insurance model, there's a growing need to focus on science and health-and-wellness research to address systemic disparities in access, improve rural healthcare provision, and enhance the quality of maternity care for all women, particularly those in rural areas and uninsured women, during International Midwives Day and beyond.
