The Important Role of Midwives in Indonesia’s Maternal Healthcare System

Midwives play a vital role in keeping mothers and babies healthy in Indonesia. They provide care during pregnancy, childbirth, and after delivery.

In many areas, especially rural communities, midwives are the main healthcare providers for women. At Bali International Hospital, midwives work alongside doctors and nurses to ensure safe and compassionate care for mothers and newborns.

Family Planning and Reproductive Health Support

Midwives help women and couples make informed choices about family planning. They provide education on birth control, pregnancy spacing, and reproductive health.

In places where doctors are hard to reach, midwives ensure women still get the care and information they need. Their work helps reduce unplanned pregnancies and supports women’s health at every stage of life.

Building Trust in Rural Communities

In remote areas, midwives are often the most trusted healthcare providers. They visit families regularly, provide care close to home, and help identify pregnancy risks early.

Because they understand local cultures, they can encourage more women to seek medical care and respond quickly in emergencies.

How Midwives Improve Health in Indonesia

Indonesia has made progress in maternal and child health, but challenges remain, especially in rural regions. Midwives help close these gaps in several ways:

• Reducing Maternal and Newborn Deaths: Trained midwives can prevent complications during childbirth and provide emergency care when needed. Their presence during delivery helps lower risks for both mothers and babies.  
• Fighting Stunting: Midwives educate mothers on proper nutrition, breastfeeding, and early childhood development to prevent stunting (impaired growth in children).  
• Reaching Remote Areas: In villages with few doctors, midwives are often the only skilled birth attendants. They travel to provide care, ensuring more women have safe deliveries.

Challenges Midwives Face

Despite their important role, midwives in Indonesia deal with several difficulties:

• Working with Traditional Birth Attendants: Some communities still rely on traditional helpers (dukun bayi), who may lack medical training. The government encourages partnerships between midwives and traditional providers to improve safety while respecting local customs.  
• Uneven Training and Resources: While Indonesia has over 300,000 registered midwives, training quality varies. Some in remote areas have less support and equipment than those in cities.  
• Ensuring Consistent Care: Better training, supervision, and integration into the healthcare system are needed to maintain high standards everywhere.

How We Support Midwives and Mothers

At our international hospital, midwives are key members of the maternal healthcare team. They work with doctors and nurses to provide complete care, including:

• Pregnancy check-ups and ultrasounds
• Safe delivery options
• Emergency care if needed
• Breastfeeding support and newborn care

The hospital follows international standards and partners with leading global medical institutions to ensure the best care for mothers and babies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a midwife do?

A midwife supports women during pregnancy, childbirth, and after delivery. They also provide family planning advice and newborn care.

Are there different types of midwives in Indonesia?

Yes, there are professionally trained midwives and traditional birth attendants. The government encourages collaboration between them to improve safety.

What is the Indonesian Midwives Association called?

It’s called Ikatan Bidan Indonesia (IBI).  

What are the main roles of a midwife?

1. Prenatal and postnatal care  
2. Assisting during childbirth  
3. Educating families on reproductive health  
4. Monitoring newborn health

Supporting Midwives Means Healthier Families

Midwives are more than healthcare workers; they are educators, lifesavers, and trusted community figures. By strengthening their role, we can ensure better health for mothers and children across Indonesia.

Looking for expert maternal care in Bali? Visit our hospital for safe, professional, and compassionate care for you and your baby.

Sources:

• World Bank
• Indonesian Ministry of Health
• WHO
• UNICEF
• Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI)