The state of the midwifery as a professional career in Turkey: Legal regulations, education and research

6^th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

August 15-17, 2016 London, UK

Zekiye Karacam

Adnan Menderes University, Turkey

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

The aim of this study is to reveal the current state of the midwifery career with the extent of its legal regulations, education and scientific researches. This study was a literature-based study in the qualitative multiple-case studies design. Within this design, it was searched with the concepts of â�?�?midwifery and the concept of midwifery in Turkeyâ�? on the scholar.google.com.tr web site. Information contained in previously known books, articles and other literature was obtained; subjective and experiencebased information was also made use of. The data obtained was presented with narrative description in the historical development and tabulated when it was necessary. As well as continued midwifery law studies in Turkey, significant legal regulations regarding midwifery training, employee rights, duties, authority and responsibilities have been implemented. Midwifery education has attained an international standard and has been offered at undergraduate (since 1997), post graduate (since 2000) and doctorate (since 2013) levels. However, a significant section of midwifery education is still administered by members of other health professions, especially nurses. Despite the existence of legal regulations, midwives are still faced with serious complexities when it comes to their authority and responsibilities in the field of work. In this context, it has been observed that together with nursing tasks being confused with midwifery tasks, nursing tasks are expected from midwives while midwives, by will or under directions, work outside their competence area. Paralleled with the delay in post-graduate programme in midwifery, conduction of scientific researches and developments in their publishing are inadequate. In this study, as a conclusion, despite the existence of general legal regulations for the training and practice of the midwifery profession, the present challenges with the practice of midwifery as well as the inadequacy of researches in midwifery were obtained. It might be contributed to the development of the midwifery career with the reconfiguration of current applications according to legal regulations, the construction of strategic studies concerning midwifery education and researches.

Biography :

Zekiye Karaçam is working as a Professor at Adnan Menderes University Ayd�?±n School of Health, Division of Midwifery. She has completed her PhD at Hacettepe University Health Science Instuties on Obstetric and Gyneacology Nursing. She woked at Hacettepe University as Lecturer and Nurse up to 2004. She has worked at Adnan Menderes University since 2004. She is the Head of the Deparment of Midwifery. She has published 16 international papers and 21 national papers in reputed journals and has been serving as reviewer for some international and national journals.

Email: zkaracam09@gmail.com