Las matronas realizaron más de un millón de consultas en atención primaria durante 2024
Matrons in Andalucia carried out a total of 1,070,000 primary care consultations during 2024, reflecting the magnitude and impact of their daily work. These consultations range from pregnancy monitoring and postpartum care to gynecological follow-up, sexual and emotional education, birth preparation and parenting, as well as women’s health prevention. Additionally, in the hospital setting, matrons play a key role in childbirth care in the obstetrics units of the public healthcare system in Andalucia. Throughout the past year, a total of 28,746 vaginal deliveries were attended to in Andalusian public hospitals, with an average of 105 deliveries per day. These figures also demonstrate the high level of care activity and the commitment of matrons to provide safe, close, and respectful care during the childbirth process.
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Andalucian Government joins in commemorating the International Day of the Midwife, celebrated every 5th of May, to recognize and value the essential work that these professionals carry out in the field of women’s sexual, reproductive, and emotional health throughout their lives.
Competencies
Matrons, as nurses specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, possess advanced skills in providing comprehensive support to women from adolescence to menopause, encompassing not only clinical aspects but also preventive, educational, and emotional support.
In Andalucia, matrons are key figures in various public health strategies driven by the Ministry of Health. Their work is essential in the development of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan for Child and Adolescent Health, particularly in areas such as birth preparation, parenting, emotional well-being, and positive parenthood.
Likewise, their active participation in the Cervical Cancer Strategy, as members of multidisciplinary teams in health districts, ensures close, accessible, and evidence-based care. Matrons also lead provincial teams that provide care to women victims of gender-based violence, showcasing their high professional and human value.
Respectful and Safe Childbirth Care
The Andalucian Government continues to prioritize respectful, safe, and woman-centered childbirth care. Initiatives such as the continuous dilation-birth-postpartum model at the Maternal and Child Hospital of Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital, or the recent renovation of the delivery room at La Merced Hospital in Osuna, which includes the option of water birth, are examples of the institutional commitment to a care model where the role of the matron is central.
On the upcoming 5th of May, the Ministry aims to express gratitude to matrons for their dedication, commitment, and leadership skills, while reaffirming its determination to continue promoting their professional development and social visibility across all areas of the healthcare system.
