Question

What are the differences in need and the reasons why a couple in the US might want to use a nurse-midwife as compared to the need and the reasons why couples in Afghanistan use midwives?

Answer 1

First it important to understand the role of a certified nurse-midwife. The term may be misleading to some. But it is important to underline the role of a nurse midwife. A certified nurse-midwife is a person who provides medical health care benefits to women across their lifespan including pregnancy and neonatal care.

Now to answer the question, what is the difference between a couple in US and Afghanistan opting for a nurse-midwife depends on a number of factors. The most important would be the current political scenarios in both the countries.

The need to have a nurse midwife is higher in both the countries. However, the reason behind the need could be entirely different. In the US, where women are generally more independent and like to be self-reliant often face certain situations which call for emergency especially for those single mothers. Having a female partner always by your side while growing through the process of motherhood would be beneficial for both the mother and the baby. Whereas, in Afghanistan where women are brought up in a close-knit family environment they often receive such kind of companionship while going through pregnancy. Still, the need for a midwife is not an exception, given the current political and cultural situations. Malnutrition, pre-natal care, post-natal care...etc are an important concern for the women of Afghanistan. Unaccessible to all the benefits that an average woman receive in the US, a mother or a woman in Afganistan requires more care which can be provided by a nurse-midwife.