The Role of Midwives in Improving Postpartum Maternal Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55606/jrik.v6i1.6044Keywords:
Breastfeeding Support, Maternal Health, Midwives, Postpartum Care, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Postpartum care is a strategic component of maternal health because the weeks after birth are associated with physical recovery, breastfeeding adaptation, psychological adjustment, and risk of preventable complications. Midwives are positioned to provide continuous, woman-centered care through clinical assessment, health education, breastfeeding support, early detection of danger signs, mental health screening, family engagement, and referral. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize evidence on the role of midwives in improving postpartum maternal health. A structured search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, and Google Scholar for studies and guidelines published between 2020 and 2026. The review followed PRISMA 2020 reporting principles. Eligible sources discussed midwife-led, postnatal, postpartum, home-based, community-based, or continuity-of-care interventions involving postpartum women. The synthesis indicates that midwives contribute to improved postpartum health through five interrelated functions: continuity of care, complication surveillance, breastfeeding promotion, psychosocial support, and health-system coordination. Evidence consistently shows that respectful, timely, and individualized midwifery care strengthens maternal confidence, improves care-seeking behavior, supports exclusive breastfeeding, and facilitates early referral. The review implies that postpartum programs should integrate midwives as primary care coordinators supported by standardized guidelines, digital follow-up, interprofessional referral pathways, and culturally responsive family involvement.
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