The professional experience of rural midwifery in China during the transition from traditional to modern birth practices (1950s–1970s): A qualitative study

During the transitional phase from traditional to modern midwifery in China, TBAs were provided with limited yet pragmatic training before assuming their roles. Despite the inherent safety risks and a lack of formal medical oversight, TBAs made critical contributions to maternal and neonatal health in the context of severely limited medical infrastructure. Their presence and practices not only addressed urgent reproductive health needs in underserved areas but also gradually facilitated the shift of childbirth from the domestic sphere to institutional hospital settings.