Maternity care, covering antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care, is globally delivered through a large variety of models of care, including but not limited to midwifery models of care, obstetrician-led models of care, family doctor-led models of care and shared care models, with different levels of continuity of care.
As part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) work on transitioning to Midwifery Models of Care, our research team is conducting a scoping review to compile existing assessment tools, conceptual and analytical frameworks, mapping approaches, and other methodologies used globally to describe, classify, or characterize models of maternity care.
Many relevant resources developed by governments, UN agencies, professional associations, NGOs, and research institutes are not indexed in academic databases. We are therefore reaching out directly to identify unpublished or otherwise hard-to-find materials that may not surface through a standard literature search.
What kind of submissions are being sought?
We welcome submissions of any published or unpublished documents that describe an assessment tool, conceptual or analytical framework, mapping approach, classification system, indicator set, or other methodology used to describe, classify, or characterize models of maternity care. This may include:
- Classification systems or typologies of maternity models of care (e.g., midwifery models of care, obstetrician-led, shared models of care, team-based, or community-based models).
- National or subnational health system assessment tools or checklists.
- Conceptual or analytical frameworks used to evaluate continuity of care, respectful care, or workforce organization.
- Mapping approaches or indicator sets used for implementation or readiness assessments.
- Theoretical or conceptual models developed through research or stakeholder consultation.
- Internal organizational guidance documents used to categorize or compare maternity models of care.
We welcome any submission published or developed after 2000. There is no restriction on language, geographical region, format, or length.
To uphold principles of confidentiality and ethical data management, grey literature and unpublished documents obtained through this call will only be referenced with the explicit informed consent of their authors, granted after they have been fully informed of how the material will be used and presented. If requested, submitted materials can instead be cited anonymously or excluded entirely from the review.
How to Submit?
If you know of, have developed, or have access to a relevant tool, framework, or document, please share it with us by 22 September 2026 via:
Please include, if possible:
- The document itself (or a link to where it can be accessed).
- The name of the organization or individual who developed it.
- The country/region and year of development.
- A brief note on its intended purpose or use.
If you are aware of others who may hold relevant materials, we would be grateful if you could forward this call to them.
Why This Matters
This review is the first step in a broader effort to support countries in strengthening and optimizing their maternity care systems, which may include transitioning towards midwifery models of care. A comprehensive picture of existing tools will directly inform the development of a global mapping methodology to support countries assess their existing models of maternity care before transitioning to optimized models.
Contact
For questions about this call or the broader review, please contact: Ulrika Rehnstrom Loi, Technical Officer Midwifery, WHO Geneva (mncah@who.int)