The Midwifery Model of Care: Structural Support for Diversity in Health Care

The current practice of midwifery in Ontario grew from a largely white, middle-class, educated, family-oriented women’s movement to a publicly-funded and regulated health profession between the early 1970s and the early 1990s. Access to midwifery has increased with funding and with growing numbers of midwives, as has the diversity of women accessing midwifery care. This paper arises from a larger project in which we interviewed midwives about their social change work, and in particular their thoughts on diversity. Our interest focuses on both the ways in which access to the profession by more diverse social groups can be supported and the ways in which respecting and honouring diversity can be further enhanced within the profession. Here we reflect on the three tenets of the midwifery model of care (informed choice, continuity of care and choice of birthplace) and how they have the potential to provide important structural support for engaging with and enhancing diversity within midwifery care.