Assessing the midwifery workforce demand: Utilising Birthrate Plus in China

•Client category allocation varied between different hospital levels.•Clients in higher category tended to need longer midwife hours.•BR+ was proved to be effective and efficient in Chinese settings.•Gaps between available and needed midwives were large and prevalent in Chinese hospitals.

ObjectiveTo assess the ability of the Birthrate Plus Workforce Planning Methodology (BR+) to forecast midwifery workforce demand in Chinese settings.DesignA retrospective analysis of medical records.Settingten hospitals in Beijing District.MethodsHospitals were selected using stratified sampling methods. The client category and midwife hours in each hospital were analysed over 1 month in consecutive three years (2013, 2014, and 2015).FindingsClient category allocation varied between different hospital levels; Clients in higher category tended to need longer midwife hours; Mean birthrate of the ten hospitals was 154.30 (SD=40.700). Seven out of the ten hospitals were in need of more midwives.ConclusionsBirthrate Plus was proved to be effective and efficient in Chinese settings; Gaps between available and needed midwives were large and prevalent in Chinese hospitals.