HebammER - Acceptance of male midwifes in Germany

Abstract

For 35 years, men have been allowed to be midwives in Germany. However, currently, there are only six men known to be midwives in the country. It is to be expected that this number will increase with the academisation of the midwifery training. Therefore, this study investigates the current acceptance of male midwives in Germany. 513 participants filled out an online survey answering questions on whether they could imagine being taken care of by a male midwife during pregnancy and birth and whether they could imagine it for other people. The results indicate that participants could imagine prenatal classes by a male midwife but could less imagine that they would accompany them through birth. Furthermore, factors such as previous support of a male midwife and number of own children significantly influenced the acceptance ratings. Thus, this study provides a first glimpse into the acceptance of male midwives in Germany, an important topic that requires more in-depth research with potentially rising numbers of male midwives