ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the job tasks and qualifications of midwives in China for the next five years.Methods Anonymous surveys were sent by email to 80 professionals to learn the job tasks and qualifications of midwives in China using the Delphi method.The recipients include senior midwives, nursing administrators and nursing educators,senior obstetricians and gynecology department chiefs,as well as health administrators.Results Learnt in the survey were the qualifications and job tasks of professional midwives in China for the next five years.The system concludes 77 job tasks of midwives, among which 31 items are supposed to be completed independently.Conclusion China should develop the midwife system as soon as possible,strengthen the midwife training and education,develop the midwife access system and the corresponding laws and regulations for midwives,standardize midwife management,clear the midwife qualifications and job tasks,formulate normative midwife promotion system,and realize the midwifery scientific management.