Evidence based practice in midwifery care

Abstract

Midwifery in India has climbed up the ladder of progression from before independence till the present day. Midwifery care introduces a system level shift from fragmented maternal and newborn care focused on identification and treatment of pathology, to skilled and compassionate woman-centric care. The maternity care gives priority to effective care with least harm. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a conscientious, explicit and judicious use of the current best evidence in making decisions regarding the individual patients’ care. Evidence based midwifery are care that ensure the practices in the midwifery settings based on clear and acceptable evidence that supports their clinical practice. PICOT questions play a significant role in guiding evidence-based practice since they guide in conducting profound research in practice. EBP uses well-defined criteria to evaluate the quality of clinical research, creating a hierarchy of evidence. It has become a global phenomenon, and is at the forefront of practice. Indeed, it is the linchpin to contemporary woman–centered maternity care in the present era.