site.btaBulgarian Association of Health Professionals: Midwives in Bulgaria Two Times Less Than Needed

105 HEALTH CARE - MIDWIVES - ASSOCIATION

Bulgarian Association of Health Professionals:
Midwives in Bulgaria
Two Times Less Than Needed


Sofia, January 21 (BTA) - There are 3,578 midwives currently working in Bulgaria, which is two times less than what health establishments need, said the Bulgarian Association of Health Professionals (BAHP) on January 21, the Bulgarian National Day of Delivery Care.

The association has decided to provide free online learning courses to midwives throughout the country.

BAHP offers a total of 12 courses, including "The role of the midwife in cervical cancer prevention", "Health promotion. Health education", "Conflicts in the health care system", "Recognizing signs of domestic abuse", "Evaluation of the quality of health care services: approaches, methods and techniques", "Human resources management in health care", etc. Those wishing to take part in any of the courses should register for their selected course between February 1 and 14.

Low birthrates: a lasting trend in Bulgaria

Low birth rates are a lasting trend in Bulgaria, said in an interview for BTA Dr. Donka Uzunova, head of the Neonatology Department at the Sheinovo Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and Chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian Association of Neonatology. According to her the births in Bulgaria in 2018 are about 4,000 less than in 2017. The total number of births in 2018 was under 60,000 and the total births for 2017 were 64,359.

There is also a change in gender ratio as currently births more often result in boys. Doctors say that this is an unnatural tendency that is mostly related to pregnancy planning and diagnostics, which include choosing the baby's gender.

The average age for a first birth in Bulgaria is 28 years, which is still close to natural fertility, said Dr. Uzunova.

Most average Bulgarian women living in bigger towns and cities choose to give birth at a later age after having already built a professional career.