2020 - the year of the nurse and midwife: a call for action to scale up and strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. World Health Day on 7 April is dedicated to supporting nurses and midwives and highlights the central role of these professions in advancing universal health coverage, achieving health-related sustainable development goals, and the Eastern Mediterranean Region Vision 2023: Health for All by All.This year, we sadly mark World Health Day in the face of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought to attention more than ever the crucial and invaluable role of health workers, who are working tirelessly day and night to care for patients and save lives. In fighting COVID-19, not only might they become infected and put their own lives at risk, but they also face distress and burnout because of long working hours. In addition, many health workers have to be away from their homes for prolonged periods, for fear of putting their own families at risk of acquiring the infection. Even before the pandemic, the safety and security of health workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has been a significant concern, as more than half of the countries of the Region face acute and protracted crises, and 70- 80% of total recorded attacks on health facilities globally occur in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Exposure to verbal abuse and neglect during childbirth among Jordanian women.

Women's relationship with health care providers in maternity settings during childbirth has a significant impact on their wellbeing and lives. The current study aims to explore women exposure to neglect and verbal abuse during childbirth METHOD: a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted at four governmental Maternal and Child Health Centers (MCHCs). A final sample of 390 Jordanian women who gave birth within the last 1-3 months was included in the study. Childbirth Verbal Abuse and Neglect Questionnaire (CVANQ) were developed to collect the data. RESULTS: women's age ranged between 18-45 years, and the mean age was 28 year. 32.2% women reported neglect during their last childbirth, 37.7% women reported verbal abuse during last childbirth. Women who reported being neglected also reported being verbally abused. An inverse relationship was found between age and neglect and verbal abuse. Neglect was significantly associated with women's receiving information regarding their rights and responsibilities, being attended by health care providers. Additionally, verbal abuse was significantly associated with being attended by health care provider. CONCLUSION: child birthing women participated in the current study was exposed to neglect and verbal abuse. This is the first study to report the prevalence of neglect and verbal abuse among child birthing women in Jordan. Research studies is needed to identify the consequences of exposure to neglect and verbal abuse during childbirth on women's psychological, emotional, and physical well being. Training classes and education for health care providers about how to care and communicate with child birthing women.

Delphi Survey of Clinical Nursing and Midwifery Research Priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

PURPOSE: As the shortage of nurses and midwives is expected to worsen in the Eastern Mediterranean region concomitantly with a growing focus on achievement of universal health coverage, nurses and midwives are expected to fill major gaps in health care. Hence, the need for a solid evidence base for nursing practice and a clear direction for clinical nursing research are paramount. Therefore, a Delphi survey was conducted to determine clinical (research focused on patient outcomes) nursing and midwifery priorities for research within this region. DESIGN: A Delphi survey, using iterative rounds of an online survey of regional clinical nursing and midwifery research experts, was conducted between January and April 2016. METHODS: Consensus was determined by percentage agreement on level of priority for topics as determined by participants. Additionally, results were compared between countries within the region by income and mortality levels using Kendall's tau. FINDINGS: Critical research topics were focused on public/community/primary care as well as emergency preparedness for disasters, and these priorities are well aligned with gaps in the literature for this region. There were statistically significant differences between priority level and country mortality group for geriatrics, self-management of disease, and sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSIONS: Critical research priorities should focus on population-based health topics. Between-country differences should be analyzed further. A clinical research database for the region may help improve research access for nurses and midwives. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Practicing nurses and midwives lack extensive evidence (including culturally relevant evidence) on which to practice. Increasing research in areas identified in this survey may improve patient outcomes and quality of care regionally.