Professors, principals and textbooks from the Midwifery school in Zadar

A History of the Midwifery Profession in the Republic of Croatia

INTRODUCTION

It can be said that midwifery is as old as humankind because there has always been someone who accompanied women in childbirth. The purpose of this article is to present the history of midwifery on the present-day territory of the Republic of Croatia, from prehistoric ages to the present.

METHOD

Historical methodologies were used for the study. An analysis of available literature and archives was carried out.

RESULTS

For many centuries, midwifery was in the hands of formally uneducated but skilled women. Midwives had professional autonomy until the 1960s when obstetricians took full control of maternal care, and midwives became their assistants.

DISCUSSION

Although midwives in the Republic of Croatia are more educated today than at any time in history, in practice, they do not have professional autonomy in the field of work that they are entitled to under Directive 2005/36/EC.