Women in Germany are entitled to midwifery care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. However, due to the current shortage of midwives, availability is not always given to the desired extent. A discrete choice experiment investigates mothers' preferences to provide policy recommendations on prioritization in times of skilled labour shortage. There is a high willingness to co-pay to ensure the availability of a midwife. Midwifery services are essential for most women, especially during the postpartum period. Online counselling can be a useful supplement to home visits, but not a substitute. The article by Jessica Rheindorf, Prof. Christian Hagist and Prof. Christian Schlereth was published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.
Rheindorf, J., Hagist, C., & Schlereth, C. (2021). Call (and pay) the midwife: A discrete choice experiment on mothers’ preferences and their willingness to pay for midwifery care. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 124, 104096.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104096