OBJECTIVES: The midwifery-led care can positively affect different health outcomes. The aim of our research is to examine the changes in the number of practising midwives per 1,000 live births in the European OECD countries.

METHODS: Indicator analysed regarding the numbers of practising midwives per 1,000 live births were derived from the “OECD Health Statistics 2023” database for the period 2000-2020. 21 European OECD countries were grouped according to the healthcare system (Bismarckian-type, solidarity-based health insurance system and Beveridge-type national health system) and geographical location (Western and Eastern Europe). Data were subsequently compared in the cross-sectional years 2000, 2010 and 2020 using parametric and non-parametric tests.

RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2020, the average number of practising midwives per 1,000 live births increased by +15.2% among Bismarck-type countries and +31.0% among Beveridge-type countries. In terms of geographical location, between 2000 and 2020, the average number of practising midwives per 1,000 live births increased by +54.3% in the group of Western European countries, and decreased by -9.7% in the group of Eastern European countries. A significant difference was found when comparing the two healthcare systems for the year 2020 (p=0.013). Considering all examined OECD countries, the average number of practising midwives per 1,000 live births in 2000 was the highest in Sweden (67.3 persons), while the lowest was in the Netherlands (8.0 persons). In 2020, it was the highest in Poland (77.8 persons), while the lowest was in Slovenia (16.4 persons). We found that the average number of practising midwives per 1,000 live births increased by +24.6% overall in the examined OECD countries.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of midwives per 1,000 live births was 58.3% higher in 2000 in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe, by 2020 the number of midwives per 1,000 live births was 7.9% higher in Western Europe.