Aim. To evaluate whether midwives from the West-Pomeranian province work as independent professionals under the Polish legislations regulating their profession. Material and methods. Qualitative research (questionnaire) was used to gain an understanding of the independence of the midwifery profession in Poland. Midwives from hospitals and universities in the West-Pomeranian province, Poland, were studied. We surveyed 115 midwives from October 12, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Results. Despite different job seniorities, the majority of surveyed midwives (73%) considered their profession as independent in the eyes of the law. When asked about the serious obstacles for independent midwifery practice, 49.6% of midwives stated a lack of knowledge about independent midwife competencies by other medical professionals, while 47% of midwives reported the lack of consistent legal regulations as a major hurdle. Other reasons included insufficient supply of medical equipment (41.7%), no legal authorization to write medical prescriptions (40.8%), and a lack of partnership and cooperation with other medical professionals (40.8%). Conclusions. Currently there are several obstacles to overcome in order for midwifery to become a fully independent practice in Poland, including a lack of consistent regulations and knowledge about midwife competencies. Educational programs for other healthcare professionals, focused on midwife competencies, would benefit the midwifery profession. Similarly, informative training on midwifery competencies should be introduced as part of undergraduate and postgraduate education for healthcare professionals. In-depth analysis of currently enforced legislation relating to the midwifery profession should be performed and altered to make it more consistent.

Key words: midwives; independent profession; Poland; competencies; legislation.